Either U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark is a big fan of Tonia Haddix’s Chimp Crazy Lady Show video podcast, or someone who is briefed him on what its star was saying—none of which is likely to be to Haddix’s benefit.
Haddix, the star of last summer’s hit HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy, pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice in federal court in St. Louis this morning. When she is sentenced in a few months, comments she’s made on the podcast may very well come back to bite her.
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It wouldn’t be the first time Haddix’s attempts at fame got her in legal trouble. The 55-year-old former St. Louis nurse became a household name through her antics in front of documentary filmmakers. Chimp Crazy showed Haddix fighting to stop PETA from removing the chimps who lived with her in Ozark, to the point of claiming in court that her favorite chimp, Tonka, was dead—and then telling the filmmakers almost immediately after that she’d lied.
Clark’s colleague, U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry, had previously referred Haddix for contempt of court charges. But after the show became a smash hit, and PETA pushed for Haddix’s on-camera lies to be taken seriously, Perry told the U.S. Attorney’s Office that she would hire a private attorney to pursue the matter if prosecutors didn’t act.
They did—resulting in the charges that were both announced today and disposed of by Haddix’s guilty plea. Neither Judge Perry, who is technically the victim of Haddix’s criminal charges, nor a PETA representative appeared in court this morning.
Now a platinum blonde, Haddix wore a black flower print dress in court and remained composed for most of the hearing until she officially pleaded guilty in front of Clark. It was only then that her voice quivered and she entered her plea through tears.
Haddix could face up to 20 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines, though she is almost certainly going to receive nothing like that when sentenced.
However, Judge Clark indicated that Haddix’s sentencing hearing is something she and her attorney, Justin Gelfand, ought to prepare for, particularly as it relates to Haddix’s acceptance of responsibility. If a judge determines that a defendant is truly remorseful, that can be grounds for a lighter sentence. But Haddix may have trouble convincing the judge as such. Clark cited comments Haddix has made on Chimp Crazy Lady Show that cast doubt on whether Haddix really thinks she did anything wrong.
Clark referenced a comment Haddix made in episode 15 about Judge Perry “not being fit to make sound decisions.” Clark said that he knew from his professional experience this not to be true.
Clark referenced other statements Haddix had made that one might construe as her feeling herself to be unjustly prosecuted. He said he had specific concerns about material in episodes one, three, four, six, ten, 12, 13 and 15.
Haddix is set to be sentenced July 16. Clark issued Haddix a cautionary statement about speaking to the press before then, especially giving any statements about her innocence, reminding her that she had just pleaded guilty in court.
Following a 1 p.m. bond hearing, Haddix left court without speaking to the media waiting for her outside.
Gelfand spoke briefly on her behalf, saying, “She looks forward to putting this behind her.”
This story has been updated.
