'Chimp Crazy' Tonia Haddix Faces Prison After Guilty Plea For Lying, Obstruction In PETA Chimp Case

ST LOUIS, Mo. — The "Chimp Crazy" star and Sunrise Beach Safari owner Tonia Haddix pleaded guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice Monday after a long legal battle with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Missouri said she formally admitted lying in court about the death of Tonka the chimpanzee during the federal civil suit, which was originally filed by PETA in 2016 against the now defunct Missouri Primate Foundation. She also admitted that her false statements hampered the justice administration in the suit.

Haddix waived her right to indictment and has pleaded guilty to three felony charges: two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.

For years leading up to this moment, PETA had sought multiple motions of civil contempt against Haddix, and pushed for criminal contempt after Tonka was confirmed and found alive.

“Despite repeatedly being warned by the District Court about the consequences of flouting the consent decree and court orders and being given ample opportunity to come into compliance, Haddix continued to defy the Court,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “She then repeatedly lied about Tonka’s death while she was under oath.”

"Tania Haddix swore to tell the truth under oath and then proceeded to blatantly lie to a federal judge," said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “There is no excuse."

Haddix's sentencing is scheduled for July 16. Each perjury charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The obstruction charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the same fine range.

"PETA hopes that Haddix's sentence will include jail time so she can get a taste of the suffering she condemned Tonka and other animals to," said the organization in a press release Monday.

Ingrid Newkirk, PETA's President, added, "When PETA and U.S. Marshals found where Haddix had hidden Tonka, he was alone, locked in a tiny cage in Haddix's dark basement...now Tonka spends his days at a beautiful sanctuary roaming a three-acre island, climbing, basking in the Florida sun, and, most importantly, spending time with other chimpanzees—and Haddix must now face consequences for her selfish, cruel actions."