A North Las Vegas judge on Thursday chose not to raise bail for a motorist accused of killing a teen and critically injuring her sister.
The decision drew sharp criticism from the mother of the victims.
“A slap in the face,” said Angela Anderson, whose daughter, Janiah Gant, 17, was killed in the Saturday afternoon crash at Simmons Street and Craig Road.
Anderson’s surviving daughter, Leilani Wigfall, 19, was also seriously injured in the crash that police say was caused by Triquan Hughes, 31, of North Las Vegas.
Police and prosecutors say Hughes was speeding and ran a red light at the intersection when his BMW clipped another car, catapulting Hughes’ vehicle onto a sidewalk and into the two girls as they were walking to a nearby store to purchase snacks.
Gant died at the scene. Wigfall remained in the hospital Thursday morning with a brain bleed, two broken legs, a broken arm and other injuries. Wigfall underwent surgery for her leg injuries on Wednesday, Anderson said.
Hughes was arrested at the scene of the crash and charged with felony reckless driving. Bail was previously set at $250,000.
On Wednesday, Clark County prosecutors tacked on two new felony driving under the influence charges against Hughes.
Deputy District Attorney Feliz Arana said Thursday that blood tests showed levels of a marijuana metabolite in Hughes’ system that were above Nevada’s legal limit. Police also said previously that Hughes smelled of alcohol after the crash, but Arana said tests on Hughes’ blood showed he was not above the legal limit for alcohol.
On Thursday, Arana asked Justice of the Peace Pro-Tem Joel Mann to double Hughes’ bail to $500,000. Hughes’ defense attorney, Tanner Harris, argued the bail should remain.
Mann declined to raise the bail, saying allegations against Hughes were considered when the bail was initially set.
“I am going to keep bail at the $250,000,” Mann said. “That’s substantial bail.”
Mann told Hughes if he does post bail and is released, he cannot drive and he cannot use alcohol or drugs including marijuana. Hughes also faces high-level electronic monitoring.
“If there are any amounts of alcohol or drugs found in your system you will be in jail immediately,” Mann told Hughes. “If you have been found to be driving at all you will be in jail immediately.”
Anderson and her family members expressed outrage after the ruling. One family member of the victims also repeatedly called Hughes a “bum” as she walked out of the courtroom.
Anderson later said she was dismayed that bail wasn’t raised given the new charges.
“I honestly wanted it to be $1 million,” Anderson said, adding that “$500,000 apiece for my kids and that still wouldn’t have been enough.”
Sandy Heverly, co-founder of the advocacy group Stop DUI Nevada, was in court Thursday to listen to the bail arguments. She said “we are extremely disappointed” over Mann’s decision.
“This is a public menace,” she said of Hughes. “Someone who can go out there and kill and cause more carnage again. He should have never just left the bail at $250,000.”
A preliminary hearing is set for June 17.
Contact Glenn Puit at gpuit@reviewjournal.com.
