Competence at issue in case

DADE CITY - With the manslaughter case against former Zephyrhills Correctional Institution psychologist Thomas Henry Straight unresolved after nearly three years, a new issue has been raised: Straight's mental competence.

Prosecutor Phil Van Allen on Tuesday said Straight's attorney hasn't raised the issue, and it's not the state's place to do so. But a Georgia woman claiming to be a friend of Straight's former son-in-law sent Circuit Judge Wayne Cobb a Georgia court document alleging Straight is not in his right mind.

Straight, 63, was arrested shortly after the May 5, 2000, shotgun shooting of David Charles Hood, 36, in Zephyrhills. Investigators say Straight told them Hood was his adoptive son and he was talking Hood out of suicide when Straight took the gun and pulled the trigger. Straight said Hood told him the gun wasn't really loaded.

In a letter to Cobb entered into the court file this month, a woman named Lori Lyon wrote that she is a friend of Straight's former son-in-law, Dave Lauer, of Georgia. She said Lauer is in the Army serving in Iraq and she had promised to look after his sons, who live with Lauer's ex-wife and now Straight.

The letter claims Straight is a potential danger to the boys and urges Cobb not to continue Straight's May 19 trial date.

The letter also includes a letter Lauer wrote and submitted to a Georgia court during his divorce from Straight's daughter, alleging "Tom is on multiple medications and is unaware of what he is doing or saying at times. He is currently getting help from the state to treat his instability and depression."

Lauer's letter claim's Straight has a bad temper.

Van Allen said it would be up to Straight's attorney, Robert Norgard, to seek a ruling on Straight's mental competency. Norgard could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Straight remains free on $50,000 bail and lists a Georgia address in court records.

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