A university professor and Democratic donor has found himself in legal trouble after some rather disturbing criminal charges were pressed against him.
Penn State University professor Themis Matsoukas, 64, has been charged with multiple misdemeanor crimes related to his allegedly engaging in sex acts with his dog, according to the Conservative Brief.
Matsoukas once donated in support of the failed 2016 campaign of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and has also financially supported other Democratic candidates for elected office.
The Centre Daily Times reported on Wednesday that Matsoukas, a chemical engineering professor who lives in State College, Pennsylvania, was caught on surveillance cameras in April while engaging in sexual acts with his dog in the Rothrock State Forest.
An investigation by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that included reviews of other surveillance and trail cameras in the area revealed that this was not the first time such alleged bestiality had occurred as multiple similar incidents were discovered dating back to 2014.
On June 9, park rangers served a warrant on a "visibly nervous" Matsoukas at his home that recovered certain items of clothing that matched what had been seen in the video. The professor is reported to have pleaded with the rangers, "I’m done, I’m dead, you don’t understand, I do it to blow off steam."
The Centre Daily Times further noted that, according to a statement from Penn State, where the award-winning professor has taught since 1991, "Themis Matsoukas has been relieved of his responsibilities and is on leave."
The professor's attorney, Matthew McClenahen, said in a statement Wednesday that "it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this time."
According to local CBS affiliate WTAJ, the big break in the investigation of Matsoukas came in May when the professor was spotted on the DCNR's cameras again along with his green Subaru Outback.
That particular vehicle had also been seen in the footage of prior incidents and led to the confirmation of his identity after the license plate was matched against the state's Department of Motor Vehicle records.
The disgraced professor now faces multiple misdemeanor charges that include "open lewdness, indecent exposure, sexual intercourse with an animal, animal cruelty, and disorderly conduct," and is scheduled to next appear in court for a hearing on July 19.
The Post Millennial reported that, while not particularly deep-pocketed, Matsoukas has been a regular contributor to Democrats broadly and certain candidates in particular.
That includes, per Federal Election Commission records, a $500 donation to former Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) failed 2004 presidential campaign, $50 to former Rep. Joe Sestak's (D-PA) failed 2013 bid to return to Congress, $50 to the failed 2016 Hillary for America campaign, and a combined $331 in small donations to the failed 2020 presidential campaign of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
Matsoukas also donated more than $1,000 between 2010-2020 to the decidedly left-wing Act Blue political action committee, which serves as a sort of clearinghouse for financial contributions to a wide variety of Democratic candidates, causes, and organizations.
