Judge lowers bail in fatality

Ten years ago, Vladimir Lagerev came from Russia to live permanently in America with a simple goal: He wanted to dance.

He performed ballet at Los Angeles Classical Ballet, a dance company in Long Beach. He also performed traditional folk dances.

His attorney said he even appeared at one time as a guest on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.

Lagerev, 45, is now behind bars at the county jail on charges that he killed a UNLV student named Lindsay Bennett. She was a dancer too.

Authorities said Lagerev was drunk and driving in the wrong direction on a freeway onramp when he slammed into Bennett's vehicle. His blood alcohol level was 0.20, more than twice the legal limit, authorities said.

He is facing charges of driving under the influence and causing Bennett's death.

Hundreds of people mourned the death of Bennett, a Coronado High School graduate who aspired to become an architect. At the same time, little information about Lagerev was known publicly.

On Tuesday, about a dozen supporters of Lagerev huddled in a Las Vegas courtroom during a brief court appearance. They came to show their support for Lagerev, who was described as a hard-working father and husband.

District Judge James Bixler lowered Lagerev's bail to $100,000, from $250,000. He also ordered Lagerev, a U.S. citizen, to turn over his passport and to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet.

Stephen Stein, Lagerev's attorney, said his client will probably be able to raise the bail.

Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson fought against lowering bail, saying Lagerev could still pose a danger to the public and might flee to Russia, where he has family ties.

"I don't want to see him kill anyone in Moscow any more than I want to see him kill anyone here," Nelson said.

But Stein said Lagerev isn't a danger to the community and won't return to Moscow. Las Vegas police already had mistakenly released Lagerev from the county jail and he voluntarily turned himself in the next day, Stein said.

He added that Lagerev has many supporters in the community. Choreographers, acrobats and dancers wrote letters to the court saying Lagerev is a caring father of a 1-year-old girl and isn't known as a heavy drinker.

"I think it (the crash) was such a big mistake," said Sayat Asatryan, who danced with Lagerev in Los Angeles. Asatryan is now an agent and director of a ballet company in Southern California.

He said Lagerev was already established as a dancer when he moved to the U.S. Lagerev, who began dancing at age 8, toured in England, Brazil, Argentina and Spain.

He eventually stopped dancing but continued to work in the arts and entertainment industry. At the time of the crash, he worked as a "rigger" at Wynn Las Vegas and in several high-profile shows, including "KA," said Alexander Poline, a friend and co-worker.

Riggers operate stage rigging systems that move equipment and acrobats on the stage.

Poline said Lagerev was working full time at the Wynn but took other jobs during his free time.

"His family never before had any problems," he said. "He's a very responsible guy."

Lagerev has no prior arrests for driving under the influence but has been arrested for misdemeanor battery domestic violence. The charge was dismissed after he completed various counseling programs.

Authorities said Lagerev crashed into Bennett's vehicle on April 15. Bennett died on April 17, three days before she would have turned 19. She was a member of the UNLV's Runnin' Rebel Girls dance team.

Lagerev's supporters didn't want to minimize Bennett's death or her family's pain. But in letters, they said they wanted people to know that he wasn't a monster.

"It is such a tragedy that this accident happened," wrote one woman. "Now there are two beautiful families that suffer."

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.