Bail increased for hit-and-run suspect

Bail was increased Monday for the woman accused of driving her car into eight people outside a church on Thursday and fleeing the scene.

Nayakeuth D. Tear, 18, appeared in North Las Vegas Justice Court where her bail was increased to $320,000.

Through a video displayed for the handful of people in the courtroom to watch, Tear stood in an orange jumpsuit inside a room with empty, green chairs and white, brick walls as Judge Natalie Tyrrell took less than two minutes to read her the charges.

Julio Alavez, the lone family member of the victims inside the courtroom, remained stoic throughout the brief appearance.

Lorenzo Alavez, 54, remains in critical condition at University Medical Center. The other seven churchgoers were treated and released from local hospitals.

Tear faces eight counts of felony hit-and-run after police say she plowed through a group of people standing outside the Iglesia de Christo church near Lake Mead Boulevard and Losee Road Thursday night.

After the accident, Tear got out of her car, looked at the scene, then got back into her Mitsubishi Galant and drove through a dirt lot where she eventually crashed her car, according to North Las Vegas police.

Police believe drugs were a factor in the accident.

Tear’s 1-year-old son, Janub, was returned to his Utah home after the accident, according to North Las Vegas police.

The car that Tear was driving during the accident had Utah license plates, but was not registered to her.

Contact Steven Slivka at SSlivka@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.