Idaho teacher accused of feeding dying puppy to snapping turtle found not guilty

A Preston science teacher has been found not guilty in one count of animal cruelty, after he allegedly fed a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in March.

The two day trial of Robert Crosland ended Friday afternoon, after a jury of six, gave their verdict after about 30 minutes of deliberation.

Crosland made national headlines for feeding a dying puppy to a snapping turtle after school hours, with a few students present.
During the Friday morning session, the prosecution called the students that witnessed the puppy being fed to the turtle and Crosland’s son Mario.
Mario was the one that gave Crosland the puppy. The puppy had been given to him from by a farmer that said it was sick and dying.

Much of the afternoon testimony centered around the puppy’s condition.
In a recording of an interview with investigator Christopher McCormick, Crosland says, “I honestly thought I was doing the right thing by putting it out of its misery.”

After the state rested their case just before 3:00 p.m., the defense moved the case be dismissed based on lack of evidence that the puppy suffered.
During the trial, it was revealed that the puppy was placed in the turtle’s aquarium filled with water.
When the puppy was put in the water with the turtle, it paddled a few times and then the turtle grabbed it and pulled it under the water. The puppy drowned before the turtle started eating it.

The judge ruled that the question was a fact that was best left the jury.

In opening arguments, the prosecution contended the puppy may not have been sick and may have been able to survive.

The defense for Crosland said, he is a man that is concerned about the welfare of the animals in his care.

The first witness to take the stand was Mario Crosland, son of the defendant.
He tearfully described his father as “A guy who will do anything he can to save an animal. His whole life has been for animals, and seeing people try to destroy him when he’s has devoted his life to them. He has done all he can to help animals.”

To other juvenile students who witnessed the event also took the stand and talked about Crosland’s devotion to his students and to the animals in his care.

The first day of the trial was taken over by the jury selection process. With the misdemeanor trial being held in the small town of Preston, a jury pool of nearly 60 arrived at the Franklin County Courthouse Thursday morning. Jury selection began around 10 a.m. and ended around 5:30 p.m., taking the entire day to seat a jury. Six jurors and one alternate, five men and three women were selected.

Original Story Blog:

BREAKING: 5:25 p.m., Jan. 4, 2019: After about 30 minutes of deliberation, a jury found Robert Crosland not guilty of animal cruelty.

The latest on the trial for Robert Crosland, a Preston Junior High biology teacher who is charged with one count of animal cruelty after he allegedly fed a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in March.

3:15 p.m. Trial continued Friday afternoon in the case of the State of Idaho vs. Robert Crosland.

Crosland is the Preston Junior High School teacher accused of animal cruelty for feeding a dying puppy to a snapping turtle after school hours, but with a few students present.

During the Friday morning session, the prosecution called the students that witnessed the puppy being fed to the turtle and Crosland’s son Mario who was the one that gave Crosland the puppy. The puppy had been given to him from by a farmer that said it was sick and dying.
Much of the afternoon testimony centered around the puppy’s condition.

In a recording of an interview with investigator Christopher McCormick, Crosland says, “I honestly thought I was doing the right thing by putting it out of its misery.”
After the state rested their case just before 3:00 p.m., the defense moved the case be dismissed based on lack of evidence that the puppy suffered.

When the puppy was put in the water with the turtle, it paddles a few times and then the turtle grabbed it and pulled it under the water and it drowned before the turtle started eating it.

The judge ruled that question was a fact that was best left the jury.

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UPDATE 1/4/19 1:15 p.m.: The Preston Junior High School teacher accused of feeding a live puppy to a snapping turtle, is now pleading his case to a jury.

Opening arguments began Friday morning in the State of Idaho vs Robert Crosland.

Crosland is charged with one count of animal cruelty stemming from an incident in March.

In opening arguments, the prosecution contended the puppy may not have been sick and may have been able to survive.

The defense for Crosland said he is a man that is concerned about the welfare of the animals in his care.

The first witness to take the stand was Mario Crosland, son of the defendant, and the one that the puppy was originally given to.

He tearfully described his father as “A guy who will do anything he can to save an animal. His whole life has been for animals, and seeing people try to destroy him when he’s has devoted his life to them. He has done all he can to help animals.”

To other juvenile students who witnessed the event also took the stand and talked about Crosland’s devotion to his students and to the animals in his care.

Crosland is expected to take the stand in his own defense later on Friday.

The trial is expected to finish Friday, but because of the jury selection taking the entire first day, it may last longer.

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ORIGINAL 1/3/19:

Thursday marked the start of the Robert Crosland trial. The Preston Junior High biology teacher, is charged with one count of animal cruelty after he allegedly fed a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in March.

Crosland, who has pleaded not guilty, faces up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine if found guilty.

With the misdemeanor trial being held in the small town of Preston, a jury pool of nearly 60 arrived at the Franklin County Courthouse Thursday morning.

Jury selection began around 10 a.m. and ended around 5:30 p.m. Seven jurors, five men and three women, were selected.

Both the prosecution and defense had originally believed that a jury would be seated by noon, but finding a fair group of six jurors in the town of less than 6,000 may have proved difficult.

Opening statements are expected to begin Friday morning.

The court will be back in session at 9 a.m., starting with jury instructions.