Former Waterloo teacher accused of pouring chocolate syrup on students didn’t suffer from mental illness, psychiatrist says

WATERLOO – A psychiatrist for the prosecution testified Wednesday that a Waterloo teacher accused of spanking and pouring chocolate syrup on a student at his home wasn't suffering from any psychiatric condition.

“It's my opinion that at the time the alleged acts occurred, Mr. Twigg was capable of forming specific intent,” Dr. Michael Taylor said of Larry Twigg, 53.

Twigg, a former West High School computer science teacher, is charged with five counts of misdemeanor lascivious conduct with a minor for incidents involving a 17-year-old boy in December 2009 and January 2010. Twigg was arrested a year ago on the charges and fired from his teaching job.

The defense started its case Wednesday afternoon in Black Hawk County Associate District Court. Twigg's attorney has indicated he may use a diminished capacity defense.

Taylor also testified that the acts of offering money to disrobe and take part in spankings were “consistent” with sexual purposes. But he said it is possible such acts weren't sexually motivated.

“Either scenario is possible. It's not an either/or, black or white proposition,” Taylor said.

The defense has argued the actions weren't sexually motivated.

Defense attorney James Metcalf also asked Taylor about the effects of head injuries Twigg apparently received during a traffic accident about nine years ago. Taylor said Twigg reported suffering from neurological symptoms effecting his impulse control and judgment.

In other testimony Wednesday, Waterloo police officers said Twigg admitted to having the student strip to his boxer shorts.

Investigator Andrea Frana testified that Twigg also admitted to having the student make snow angels in his yard. And Twigg said he spanked the student and poured chocolate syrup over him while he was clad in the shorts, she said.

Frana said Twigg didn't disclose that he had offered to spank the child on his naked buttocks as part of the list of tasks he presented him to make money and work off class assignments.

The student had testified on Tuesday that the nude spanking was an option, and he turned it down.

Frana went on to say that Twigg denied he was aroused by the acts, instead saying he did it teach the student a lesson.

“He said he wasn't himself that day. He didn't know why,” Frana said.

Twigg told investigators that he had destroyed the list of tasks that he showed the student.

Two other former students took the stand Tuesday and told jurors they, too, were presented with similar challenges while at Twigg's home. One of the witnesses said it happened when he was a student in 1995, another said his encounter came in the summer of 2009. Twigg isn't charged with the incidents involving those two former students.