Tonia Haddix Arrested for Ignoring Court Order

Authorities have reported the arrest of Tonia Haddix, known from HBO’s “Chimp Crazy,” for failing to comply with a court order amidst her ongoing legal troubles.

The 55-year-old appeared in a mugshot where she looked a bit disheveled after being taken into custody by U.S. marshals in Missouri on Saturday.

Tonia and her husband, Jerry Aswegan, are facing accusations related to their absence from court as well as legal fees exceeding $220,000 that stem from the dismissal of a federal lawsuit filed by PETA. It seems they failed to uphold agreed payments tied to the case.

The lawsuit against Haddix, initiated in 2016, alleges mistreatment of primates, including Tonka, a chimpanzee who was featured in the 1997 comedy “Buddy.” In a troubling twist, Haddix initially claimed that Tonka had died and been cremated, but later admitted in June 2022 that a chimpanzee was actually found trapped under an Ozark lake.

Earlier this year, Haddix pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice for misleading a federal judge about Tonka’s status.

PETA has argued that the couple did not fulfill their financial responsibilities as agreed. Court documents cited by St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian confirm that they missed several court hearings.

“PETA spent substantial resources to rescue Tonka from Tonia Haddix’s basement, moving him to a sanctuary where he is now thriving, yet Haddix continues to evade her obligations,” the organization commented.

They further stated, “We believe that this jail time is just a precursor to the longer sentence she might face next month.”

Tonia is at the center of “Chimp Crazy,” a documentary series on HBO that explores the ownership of chimpanzees used in entertainment. After posting a $2,500 bail, she has been released and is due back in court on August 5.

Meanwhile, her husband Aswegan has not yet been arrested, but PETA anticipates that he will be taken into custody soon.