An Alton woman who had her pet monkey taken from her this summer in a custody dispute was charged Monday with three counts of unlawful possession of a primate, a misdemeanor.

Kendra Hougland and her former pet Java Macaque monkey, Nina, were at a dog-related even in Grafton on June 2 when Nina bit a 6-year-old boy. The child received medical attention, but his injuries were not serious.

Nina was put in quarantine at home of a temporary guardian because local facilities were not set-up to house a primate during a required quarantine period, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office said. The temporary guardian subsequently took Nina to Indiana without the knowledge of local officials.

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons filed a Declaration of the Right of Possession to regain possession of the monkey. Officials from the St. Louis Zoo secured Nina on July 3 and transported her to a rescue center in Kentucky, where she will remain, prosecutors said.

During the investigation, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office said, it was determined that Hougland did not legally own her monkey. Hougland, who had been in possession of Nina since Aug. 2012, faces up to 30 days in jail on the charges. Gibbons plans to seek restitution for medical costs for the victim’s family as well as the costs incurred in caring for Nina.