An Idaho teacher accused of feeding a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in front of students has been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

The Preston Junior High School science teacher, Robert Crosland, sparked outrage when he was accused of feeding the small dog to the turtle as part of a demonstration to students in March.

Later that month, state officials euthanized the turtle. The Idaho Department of Agriculture has deemed the species invasive.

Crosland, charged Friday, now faces up to six months in jail and $5,000 fine if convicted.

Idaho's attorney general assigned a special prosecutor to the case after a Franklin County prosecutor recused himself because of a conflict of interest, EastIdahoNews.com reported. Preston, Idaho, is about about halfway between Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

► May 17:Florida teacher accused of drowning animals in front of students

► March 16:Turtle euthanized after teacher allegedly feeds it puppy

► March 13:Teacher investigated after allegedly feeding puppy to snapping turtle

Animal rights activist Jill Parrish filed a police report after hearing about the incident in March, but some students and parents came to Crosland's defense.

"If it was a deformed puppy that was going to die anyway. Cros(land) is very much circle of life," parent Annette Salvesen told KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, in March.

"The event occurred well after students had been dismissed and was not a part of any school-directed program," Preston School District officials said in a March statement. "We emphasize that at no time was the safety of students or staff compromised."

Preston, best known for being the town featured in Napoleon Dynamite, has a population of roughly 5,200.

Contributing: William Cummings and Matthew Diebel, USA TODAY. Follow Ryan Miller on Twitter: @RyanW_Miller

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