ST. LOUIS – Tonia Haddix, the Festus woman at the center of the HBO series “Chimp Crazy,” for her handling of chimpanzees, appeared in federal court Monday.

She entered court, waiving her indictment. Haddix, 55, was emotional as she pled guilty to three felony charges—two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice.

“(I’m glad) that we were able to negotiate a fair resolution in my client’s best interest,” Haddix’s attorney, Justin Gelfand, stated. “She looks forward to putting this behind her.”

Over the course of years, Haddix has been accused of unsafe and unsanitary conditions for the seven chimpanzees in her care, as well as lying that one died so she could secretly keep the animal.

Prosecuting Attorney Hal Goldsmith emphasized Haddix previously lying under oath regarding the faked death of her chimpanzee Tonka. Chief Judge Stephen Clark also cited specific examples of Haddix publicly declaring her innocence in her podcast, “wild + tame,” also known as the “Chimp Crazy Lady Show.”

“(Haddix) clearly obstructed the administration of justice… there was evidence that Tonka was alive, and the court acted appropriately and issued orders that Tonka be taken from the defendant,” Goldsmith said following the hearing.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had publicized their concerns since 2018 not only for the animals but also for community members after one escaped the enclosure in 2020. U.S. Marshals eventually seized the chimpanzees and transported them to a wildlife sanctuary in Florida.

In a statement, PETA leadership expressed a desire for Haddix to see jail time.

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, isolated, and denied everything necessary for a healthy, happy life. U.S. Marshals and PETA freed him and 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.

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk

Haddix is scheduled to lose her animal welfare license on April 22 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered the termination of her license earlier this month.

Haddix will be sentenced on July 16.