Prosecutors: Man gave drugs to companion monkey
CINCINNATI — A 34-yearold man is facing criminal charges after he was accused of giving amphetamines to his companion monkey.
Adam Kordes, 34, could be sentenced to a maximum of four years in prison if convicted of cruel treatment against companion animals and having weapons under disability, according to the office of Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters.
Cincinnati Animal Care officers received a tip on Feb. 2 from a veterinarian in Florida that a Capuchin monkey owned by Kordes had been given illicit drugs. Officers went to Kordes’ residence where they found the Capuchin monkey, Neo, severely malnourished, and blood tests confirmed the presence of amphetamines, prosecutors say.
“These monkeys are social animals,” Deters said in a statement. “If they are going to be owned, the people who own them must take their responsibility to care for them seriously. We are going to do everything in our power to protect Neo and keep him away from this abusive owner.”
Deters said Neo has been turned over to “responsible handlers” and that he is doing well.
Officers returned to Kordes’ home on March 4 and found a 12-guage shotgun. Kordes is not permitted to have a firearm because of a prior determination of mental incompetence from a 2017 indictment for aggravated vehicular homicide.