Judge Orders Chris Brown To Pay $35K In Illegal Pet Monkey Case

A judge has ruled that Chris Brown be banned from purchasing any pet monkeys for the next six months.

The 30-year-old singer was charged last December with two misdemeanor counts of possessing a pet capuchin monkey without a permit between Oct. 31, 2017 and Jan. 3, 2018, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing the city attorney’s office. Brown’s possession of such an exotic pet became public knowledge in December 2017, when he posted a video on Instagram that showed his young daughter Royalty holding the monkey; a month later, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confiscated the pet, named Fiji, and moved him to an animal sanctuary, according to the outlet.

But Brown began the process of putting the entire issue to bed with a hearing held on Wednesday, according to TMZ. Brown’s attorney appeared in court, where a judge banned Brown from purchasing any monkeys for a six-month period, or until June 6, 2020, the outlet reports.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner H. Elizabeth Harris ordered Brown to begin a formal diversion program lasting for six months, according to Patch. If he sticks to the terms and refrains from purchasing any monkeys, or any other exotic animals, the charges against him will be dropped.

The singer was also ordered to pay $35,000 to the facility where the animal was relocated — a fine which his lawyer has confirmed that he's already paid in full, according to Patch. As for whether Brown will ever get to see Fiji again, a judge ruled that visitation decisions be made by the sanctuary where the monkey currently lives.

Following backlash, Brown last year allegedly denied that the animal belonged to him, and claimed instead that he and his daughter were visiting a relative in Las Vegas, Nevada who owned the monkey.

Brown initially faced a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of $1,000, according to The Times.