Taking action against a professor for criminal charges incurred off campus can be tricky for universities to work with.

An Iowa State professor will appear in court Thursday on two counts of animal neglect.

Joseph Viles, associate professor of zoology, was charged with animal neglect on July 8. These charges came after he left two dogs in his car on the hot day with no food, water or shelter available for them.

A citizen reported witnessing one dog trying to escape from the car to avoid the heat. The dogs were noticed in the court parking lot while Viles was making an appearance on unrelated animal neglect charges. The temperature on July 8 reached 85 degrees.

Viles was unavailable for comment.

“Obviously this is not something that has happened on campus,” said Peter Rabideau, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Rabideau said he was unaware of the situation until recently, and issues dealing with a professor’s personal life and job at the university can be very complicated.

“In my experience as an administrator, the issues can be very complex, particularly when dealing with activities that are off campus,” Rabideau said.

Paul Tanaka, university legal counsel, said the university could take action if it finds the crime had an impact on the interest of the university. He also said the severity of the charge would play a role in whether the university took action.

“There really are no guidelines,” Tanaka said. “Certainly if the activity involves a student or other employees, we would do something.”

Viles has been convicted or found in violation of animal charges 16 times since 1995. In 1999, he was ordered to remove all dogs from his residence.

Story City attorney Dan Rothman has said Viles cannot be charged with animal abuse. He said animal neglect pertains to your own animal, while abuse deals with another person’s animal.

The crimes are simple misdemeanors, punishable by a fine up to $500 or 30 days in jail, Gary Foster, chief deputy for the Story County Sheriff’s Office, has said.

Tanaka could not comment on any specific cases or professors the university is taking actions against.