Teacher who fed puppy to snapping turtle found not guilty of animal cruelty

PRESTON, Idaho (WXMI) -- An Idaho middle school teacher who fed a puppy to a snapping turtle was found not guilty of animal cruelty late Friday afternoon.

The defense attorney for Robert Crosland said in an opening statement Friday his team is not disputing that Crosland fed a puppy to a snapping turtle, but argued "we don't believe a crime was committed."

Crosland had been charged in Franklin County, Idaho, with misdemeanor animal cruelty after local residents reported him to police for feeding a sick, dying puppy to a snapping turtle.

Prosecutor David Morris said the incident occurred in Crosland's classroom at Preston Junior High School, but after normal school hours with four students present.

One of those students, a 14-year-old, testified Friday that he was staying after school to do make-up work following a family vacation.

The teen said he played with and touched the puppy before Crosland first tried feeding it to a snake in his classroom.

When the snake paid no attention to the puppy in its tank, the teen said Crosland moved the puppy to the snapping turtle's tank.