Penn State Professor on Leave After Being Caught in Compromising Position with Dog

A Pennsylvania State University professor faces charges of “open lewdness,” cruelty to an animal and sexual intercourse with an animal after a Rothrock State Forest trail camera allegedly recorded a dog licking his anus.

A criminal complaint filed Monday says a camera a park ranger set up to catch people stealing hand sanitizer bags from bathrooms caught Themis Matsoukas on April 13 pulling an apparently resistant dog into a restroom and, later that same day, pulling the dog close to his buttocks while he masturbated.

“We are deeply appalled by the allegations,” the university said in a statement Thursday. “Themis Matsoukas has been relieved of his responsibilities and has been put on leave.”

Matsoukas, 64, of State College, is a professor of chemical engineering and physics. His attorney, Matt McClenahen, had no comment.

The criminal complaint says that when rangers appeared at his home, he said, “I do it to blow off steam” and “what do I have to do to get you to shoot me?”