The "Tiger King" is delaying treatments for prostate cancer in order to hear his resentencing.
Joseph Maldonado-Passage, who is more commonly known as Joe Exotic, has filed a motion in a federal court not to delay his resentencing for treatment. He announced that he had prostate cancer in November and was subsequently transferred to a federal medical center in Butner, North Carolina. He was originally held at a federal medical facility in Fort Worth, Texas. It is unclear where his resentencing will take place.
"Given the declination of radiation and the ability to postpone it pursuant to his own doctors, Mr. Maldonado does not want his resentencing hearing postponed any longer," said the court filing. Physicians tending to the former zookeeper say that he will not be able to travel while undergoing treatment, potentially complicating both his cancer treatment and his resentencing.
Maldonado-Passage is asking for a sentencing date between January 20 and 31. According to his filing, physicians believe they will be able to properly monitor his cancer before his sentencing, saying that "postponing radiation treatment until after resentencing would not be detrimental to his health as it is unlikely to affect his prognosis or outcome."
Maldonado-Passage had previously asked to be released from prison in order to seek treatment for his cancer. In a letter posted on Instagram announcing his diagnosis, he asked his fans to keep him in their prayers.
"There is no reason for the district attorney to drag this out," the letter said. "So I can go home and get treatment on my own or enjoy what life I have left with my loved ones! Say a prayer everyone and be my voice."
Maldonado-Passage, who was prominently featured in the Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, was originally sentenced to 22 years in prison for violating wildlife laws and allegedly hiring hitmen to kill Florida animal rights activist and fellow zookeeper Carole Baskin. He continues to deny any involvement in the alleged assassination attempt.
Federal officials have said that Maldonado-Passage will need up to eight weeks of radiation treatments.
"Additionally, if Mr. Maldonado is released within the next 6-18 months, more advanced options are available to him," the filing states.
A federal appeals court ruled in July that he should get a shorter prison sentence because the trial court wrongly treated the two convictions separately in calculating his prison term under sentencing guidelines.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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