Teacher’s bail lowered

Thursday, June 20, 2002 | 9:18 a.m.

A California teacher accused of having a three-day sex romp with a 15-year-old student in Las Vegas may have a chance to buy her freedom sometime this week after a district judge lowered her bail from $280,000 to $74,000 Wednesday.

"We're waiting to see if her family can raise the money," Deputy Public Defender Jordan Savage said.

If she posts bail, 33-year-old Tanya Hadden will return to San Bernardino to live with her parents until her July 22 jury trial in Las Vegas, Savage said.

Hadden will have to make bail in California as well, as she faces similar charges in San Bernardino County as she does here -- multiple counts of statutory sexual seduction and sexual conduct of a teacher with a student. She is also charged with kidnapping in both states, and if convicted in Clark County she faces life in prison.

The parents of the 15-year-old told the court through Deputy District Attorney Lisa Luzaich that they didn't want the defendant released or the bail lowered.

"They're afraid that she is going to go back to California and contact (the boy) ... that he will hear her voice and melt," Luzaich said.

District Judge Joseph T. Bonaventure, however, agreed with the defense that the original bail was excessive.

"The purpose of bail is not to berate or scold the defendant but to make sure she returns," Bonaventure said.

He set bail at the standard amount for each sex-related charge and set the bail for the first-degree kidnapping charge at $20,000.

Chief District Judge Mark Gibbons had raised Hadden's bail at $280,000 upon learning that the alleged victim in the case told police they had discussed remaining on the run until his 18th birthday and possibly going as far as Canada.

Hadden said in court Wednesday that she wasn't a flight risk.

"My car has 100,000 miles on it," she said. "I don't think it would make it to Canada.'

Savage saw the bail reduction as a positive sign for his client, whether or not she is able to post bail.

"(Hadden's) spirits are up after this morning," Savage said. "At least there is some recognition that the case is overcharged and that there is overkill."