DUCHESNE — A Duchesne County man who allegedly shot at a man driving past his property and later at sheriff's deputies will undergo a third evaluation to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.
Clyde Wayne Thomas is charged in 8th District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.
Thomas, 73, has already undergone two competency exams, which ended with differing opinions from the evaluators. Prosecutors have asked for a third evaluation, a request granted by Judge Ed Peterson.
Authorities were called Nov. 21 to the Pinion Ridge area by a man who had suffered a gash in his head after a bullet entered his vehicle and fragmented, said Duchesne County Sheriff's Sgt. Wade Butterfield. The man told investigators he was in the area to check on a friend's property and was shot at twice as he passed Thomas' home.
A second .22-caliber slug was found in the vehicle's fender, Butterfield said.
Thomas allegedly fired a single shot in the direction of sheriff's deputies who were staging to approach his home following the initial shooting.
Thomas surrendered after a brief negotiation. He denied shooting at the driver, Butterfield said, but did apologize for firing at police.
The sergeant said the area has been targeted by burglars in the past, but Thomas appeared to be "paranoid" about having his property taken.
"He had locks and hasps on all the hoods of his vehicles," Butterfield said. "He had some tripwires and booby traps made to deter anybody that might steal something from him." Butterfield described the booby traps as "half-baked" and said they included boards with nails driven through them and cans hanging from strings.
Thomas remains in the Duchesne County Jail. His next court hearing is set for Sept. 16.
— Geoff Liesik