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Noel Lardeo, a first-grade teacher, speaks with attorney Warren Geller during a preliminary hearing at the Regional Justice Court Monday, April 2, 2012. Lardeo is accused of being under the influence of alcohol in February when she lost control of her car, striking a bus bench and critically injuring a 15-year-old boy on Spring Mountain Road.
By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Thursday, April 5, 2012 | 11:45 a.m.
Sun Coverage
- Teen who lost leg testifies in teacher's DUI-related hearing (4-2-2012)
- Judge sets preliminary hearing for teacher in DUI-related accident (2-7-2012)
- Bail set at $250,000 for teacher arrested in DUI case that critically injured teen (2-7-2012)
- Teacher identified as driver in Sunday morning accident that critically injured teen (2-7-2012)
- Woman arrested for DUI after fatal accident (2-6-2012)
Noel Lardeo’s drunken driving/injury case will go before a Clark County District Court judge next week.
Lardeo, a Las Vegas elementary school teacher, was arrested after crashing her car into a bus stop two months ago and striking a 15-year-old boy, dismembering one of legs and nearly cutting off the other.
Following a preliminary hearing this week, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum has ruled there is enough evidence to send Lardeo’s felony case forward.
Lardeo is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. April 11 in District Court. She is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on $250,000 bail.
Lardeo, a first-grade teacher at the Roger Bryan Elementary School, is charged with a class B felony of driving and being in actual physical control while under the influence of intoxicating liquor causing death and/or substantial bodily harm to the victim.
During her preliminary hearing earlier this week, witnesses said they saw Lardeo driving her 2005 Accura through a stop light, move into the center lane, then saw her car “drift” to the right before jumping the curb and running into the bus stop at 5:08 a.m. Feb. 5 at Spring Mountain and El Camino roads.
Conan Obenchain, who was sitting at the bus stop, was brought into the court in a wheelchair to testify. Obenchain said he didn’t remember the accident.
But Obenchain told the court that half of his left leg had to be amputated and that his right knee was shattered.
Kenneth Mancour, a Metro motorcycle officer who arrested Lardeo, said Lardeo failed three field sobriety tests at the scene.
Prosecutors say she also failed a blood alcohol test that showed she had at least .08 percent alcohol in her bloodstream, which is the legal threshold for drunken driving.
Officers said Lardeo has said she had had only a few drinks the evening before and that her tire had blown, causing her car to crash.
Meanwhile, KSNV Channel 3 is reporting that a fund has been set up at Nevada National Bank to help pay the Obenchain's medical expenses. Anyone who would like to donate can do so by using account No. 2103206.
A School Teacher should know dont DRINK AND DRIVE !!! Could get up to 20 Years in JAIL !!!
No doubt, everyone makes mistakes, some are lucky enough when it comes to drunk driving not to victimize others. But then, there are the Ms. Lardeo's. The ones who have absolutely no remorse for taking the future away of others and leaving them permanently in a state of utter despair. How could you, Ms. Lardeo? This child was in the courtroom in a wheelchair. All you could gather about yourself was, to whisper in your attorney's ear statements that would possibly benefit your defense. You need to be imprisoned for many years.
The other convicts will not like you. Let me give you an example. I once knew this inmate who was convicted of DUI with great bodily harm. Before the commencement of legal proceedings against him, this inmate had his family sell everything he owned. It was a good sum of money that was collected. Did he use these funds to hire a lawyer? He did not. The money was given, by the inmate, voluntarily to his victim. The inmate pleaded guilty to all the charges against him and refused all plea bargains offered to him by the prosecution. While incarcerated, this inmate came to work for prison industries. He made a decent salary. Where did 90% of his net income go? Not in his pocket. He voluntarily paid this huge percentage to the victim. This inmate suffered, emotionally, every day of his life. This was no game being played. This guy was real. He was greatly respected by the other inmates, and the prison staff.
Ms. Laredo. No one of any decency or that of human value will ever respect you. You have no remorse in what you did to this child. You'll get your "just desserts" in prison. This, I assure you.
What real difference would it make if the defendant expressed profound regret for her actions? The victim would still face life with severe disability and disfigurement, and often enough such melodrama is expressed in hopes of sympathy from the court. She did the crime, and can now do the time, with restitution down the road. The whole situation is most unfortunate.
From the accounts she was in shock at what happened at the scene (seeing his missing leg). It didn't translate to her booking photo. As far as whispering in her lawyers ear...what is she supposed to do? She did a very bad thing she will pay with loss of freedom, loss of career, loss of money and have this incident on her conscience for the rest of her life. No matter what she does at this point, it isn't going to bring back this boys ability to function normally.
I guess there's a point to be made of just admitting guilt, excepting the punishment and sparing everyone a trial. This will probably occur with a plea deal. This victim was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Terrible tragedy.
Bradley, drinking & driving is not a "mistake." It's an abomination and there is no excuse for it - PERIOD! I agree with Erik that no amount of remorse will suffice for this act of indifference to the safety & well-being of others. I hope she is convicted and sent away for the maximum as permitted by law. Shed no tears for this woman because she deserves no sympathy!
She should be put away for the max time. My daughter was killed on 12/12/2010 in Las Vagas by a second time DUI offender Adris Ghani and here it is 04/08/2012 and he is still a free animal due to delays. Seems the offender has more rights than the victims. If he would have gotten more than a slap on the wrist the first time she might be alive today. RIP Christina A. Konarski