Judge won't dismiss charges against former Waterloo teacher

WATERLOO – A judge will not dismiss charges against a former Waterloo teacher accused of pouring chocolate syrup on a student in 2009, and his trial will remain on track for March 15, in Black Hawk County District Court.

First Judicial District Judge Nathan Callahan denied Wednesday a motion to dismiss six misdemeanor charges of lascivious acts with a minor against Larry Twigg, 52, a former computer West High School teacher, according to court records.

Twigg's attorney James Metcalf asked the court last Friday to dismiss the charges based on lack of probable cause. He claimed the crime wasn't sexually motivated and based on a mental evaluation Twigg doesn't have intent to commit the crime.

Twigg filed a notice of his intent to claim diminished capacity as a defense after he was charged.

Callahan said in his ruling based on the minutes of testimony Twigg's actions could be taken as being sexually motivated and it's should be a question for a jury.

Callahan also said the mental evaluation shows that Twigg doesn't suffer from any diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Dr. Michael Taylor's medical opinion is Twigg has no abnormal or unusual sexual proclivities, and the acts he's charged with aren't sexually motivated.

Twigg is accused of paying a minor to strip down to his boxers, stand in the shower and let him pour chocolate syrup on the minor, and another count alleges Twigg paid a minor to strip down and go outside and make snow angels at his home, according to a criminal complaint.

A pre-trial conference is set 10 p.m. Thursday.

Twigg was terminated from the district last March.