PRESTON, Idaho, Jan. 4, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — An Idaho science teacher accused of animal cruelty after he fed a sick puppy to a large snapping turtle in front of several students has been found not guilty of animal cruelty.
According to East Idaho News, a six-person jury found Robert Crosland not guilty after deliberating for about 30 minutes. The paper reported that the verdict was delivered to a courtroom packed with Crosland’s family, students and teachers, there to offer support.
Witnesses had said the puppy was alive when it was fed to the turtle, but was sick and likely to die from its health issues.
Crosland had faced up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor charge.
After the March 2018 incident, officials seized and euthanized the snapping turtle, a member of an invasive species in Idaho. The law requires owners to have a permit, and Crosland did not.
An online petition calling for Crosland to be fired had reached 243,440 signatures before the verdict.
