courts:

Man charged with DUI in death of Rebel Girl indicted

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 | 4:19 p.m.

Lagerev arraignment (April 22)

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A Clark County grand jury today indicted Vladimir Lagerev on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol in the April 15 death of UNLV Rebel Girl Lindsay Bennett.

Bennett was killed after her 2006 Honda was hit head-on about 9:30 p.m. on the Windmill Road off-ramp of Interstate 215.

“In most DUI cases, when somebody goes through a red light, there may be a question as to what occurred,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson said. “When you go wrong way on the freeway, it’s pretty clear what happened.”

The grand jury heard testimony from a medical examiner, three eyewitnesses and the two Nevada Highway Patrol officers who responded to the crash.

The indictment alleges that Lagerev drove his 2008 Acura south on the Windmill off-ramp, hitting Bennett’s car. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.20, Nelson said.

Lagerev’s attorney Stephen Stein said the indictment was not a surprise. The grand jurors heard only the prosecutors’ evidence. Stein chose not to present any.

“Grand juries are not very fair,” he said.

Lagerev remains in the Clark County Detention Center on $250,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. May 27 in District Court.

Bennett, a 2008 Coronado High School graduate who was majoring in architecture at UNLV, died at University Medical Center after two days in intensive care. She would have turned 19 three days after her death.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By davidwayneosedach

5/20/09 at 5:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

This Lagerev needs to be putaway for sometime. It is pretty clear he caused this 18 year old's death.
By lastword

5/20/09 at 7:55 p.m.

Suggest removal

LOCK THE DOOR, TOSS THE KEY for this killer. Vlad can spend the rest of his time in jail not drinking and driving.
By whats_in_the_box

5/21/09 at 5:27 a.m.

Suggest removal

Two and a half times the legal limit.
Driving the wrong way on the freeway.
Kills a teenager.

This guy is going away for 8 to 12.
By nikpod

5/21/09 at 8:09 p.m.

Suggest removal

Seriously...we have to be tougher on drunk drivers. Politicians and goverment officials keep talking about making harsher punishments, but no one is acting.
According to old Greek mythology, if you take something from someone you have to give something in return. If you take someone's life, then you give yours in return. If that was our country's "golden rule", I'm willing to bet people wouldn't make half the bad choices they do. How is that not fair? Our families would be that much safer.
By LasVegasLawyerGal

5/22/09 at 8:54 p.m.

Suggest removal

The story should have noted that Mr. Stein--like every other criminal defense attorney (myself included)--has no right to present evidence to a grand jury. Indeed, we aren't even admitted to their proceedings--it's strictly a party for the prosecution, which gets to present its case without fear of contradiction or challenge by the defense. For these reasons, a New York Supreme Court Justice once said a grand jury would "indict a ham sandwich" if a prosecutor asked them to. While any death of a young person is by definition tragic and the family of Ms. Bennett deserves our prayers and sympathy, I have to ask the blunt question: would this case have received the press it has if instead of being a blonde, white cheerleader, she had been a person of color who wasn't as telegenic?
By mrse

11/12/09 at 11:51 a.m.

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Lawyergal:

She was a dancer, not a cheerleader. (Since we are correcting everyone here.) What is wrong with receiving a lot of press? People need to know how this "legal" system works. Until this tragic incident, I had no idea that someone could remain at home with their family while awaiting a trial. It is obvious what happened: He got drunk and chose to drive. So while the family of Lindsay waits for closure, he gets to spend EVEN MORE TIME, and the holidays at home. Nice justice.