Since last February’s arrests in Frostburg, Maryland, the case involving Jack LaSota, who goes by “Ziz,” has prompted overlapping federal and state proceedings tied by authorities to six deaths. On Thursday, LaSota’s defense sought to pause a federal court hearing on whether evidence collected after her arrest should be suppressed, arguing that LaSota may be unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings.
U.S. District Court Judge James Bredar granted a late Wednesday motion for a competency evaluation, ordering LaSota to undergo a mental competency exam before the matter moves forward. Bredar also said LaSota will be held in federal custody at least while the evaluation is conducted and a report is prepared, signaling that the federal timeline will be disrupted.
The competency request was made by defense attorney Gary Proctor, who told the court there is reason to believe LaSota is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders her mentally incompetent to stand trial on the federal gun charge. In written filings referenced during Thursday’s hearing, Proctor said “Counsel believes there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering her mentally incompetent to the extent that she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the