In Preston, Idaho, a biology teacher who fed a live puppy to a snapping turtle in class, in full view of his students, is scheduled to stand trial on January 3, 2019. Robert Crosland faces misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and has pleaded not guilty.
According to the Idaho Statesman, the Idaho attorney general’s office investigated the incident after several parents came forward to say Crosland had fed the puppy to the turtle on March 7. The turtle was later seized by authorities and euthanized as a non-native species. Petitions for and against what happened appeared in the community, including one insisting the teacher be fired for killing an animal in front of “impressionable junior high school students.”
Conflicting reports had stated the puppy had birth defects and would not have survived, however there have been nothing in court documents supporting that claim. Animal activist, Jill Parrish told police the puppy was sick, but that she was horrified by what had happened.
Crosland continues to work as a teacher at Preston Junior High School.
“While the district certainly does not condone individual actions that may violate district policy or reasonable expectations of behavior, we hope that any errors in judgment made by a teacher in this instance will not cause us to forget the years of care, effort, and passion the teacher has given to students in Preston School District,” Idaho’s Preston School District said in a statement.
If found guilty, Crosland could face six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
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Dog takes herself sledding!
Beautiful horses play in the snow
Throw the book at the creep! And there is ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION for killing the turtle!
$5000 fine & 6 months in jail is a joke……. I hope it’s a fair trial (this sick POS should NOT be teaching).
If the trial is held within the community, I doubt he would be found “guilty”…….
If the trial is “change of venue”, then perhaps he will be found “guilty”……
This SHOULD have happened Last March when the horrific deed was done! For Christ Sakes!!
Both my daughters are teachers and they would never condone nor support this crazed teacher for playing god with a puppy, sick or not. Who is this scum to determine that feeding this puppy to the turtle was ok? He knows all about animals and their conditions, whether sick or not, or could have been treated? He should be removed from his post for doing that in front of his students. Sick, demented scum. I worked in a school district and know no one who would say this teacher should remain in his job teaching. Remove him now.
After the trial, feed him to some super hungry animals!