Teacher indicted in teen sex case

Kim Smith

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 10:55 a.m.

A Clark County grand jury Thursday indicted a California teacher accused of carrying on an affair with a 15-year-old boy.

According to an indictment unsealed this morning, Tanya Hadden, 33, faces 12 counts of sexual conduct between a teacher and a student, six counts of statutory sexual seduction and one count of first-degree kidnapping.

Hadden is scheduled to be arraigned by District Judge Joseph Bonaventure Wednesday.

Chief District Judge Mark Gibbons set 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.

A greeting card allegedly given to the boy by Hadden is signed, "I love you. I love you. I love you ... even in Canada," Deputy District Attorney Lisa Luzaich told Gibbons.

Hadden, a San Bernardino teacher, is accused of beginning an affair with the boy about one month ago and driving to Las Vegas with him the first week of May once authorities began to investigate rumors she had supplied teenagers with alcohol at a party.

Although Hadden denies having sex with the boy, the boy told police they had sexual intercourse eight times over three days in three different Las Vegas motels.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Doug Herndon said California authorities have agreed to allow Nevada to prosecute Hadden first because the potential penalties are much higher in Nevada. If convicted, Hadden could receive a life sentence just on the kidnapping charge.

Herndon said the case against Hadden is especially strong because the two were found together in Nevada and authorities believe they have physical evidence the two were sexually involved.

Although Hadden and the boy are from California, Herndon said the 1998 Nevada statute that prohibits sex between teachers and students from the same school does not specify that they must be from Nevada or Clark County.