YOUR AD HERE »

Teen pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter

Sierra Countis

TRUCKEE – Scott Lindner pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges surrounding the Aug. 16 hit-and-run death of Keith Stewart following a concert here.

The 18-year-old Ross, Calif., man faces charges of vehicular manslaughter, gross negligence, and driving under the influence of marijuana in connection with the incident, which occurred in front of several witnesses during a concert at Truckee River Regional Park.

Lindner could spend up to 10 years behind bars if convicted, said William Cornell, Nevada County deputy district attorney.



Cornell filed a felony count of vehicular manslaughter against Lindner on Monday after receiving the toxicology test results for both Lindner and Stewart. No information was available at press time as to what exactly the toxicology reports revealed.

At the arraignment hearing at Nevada County Superior Court in Truckee, Lindner surrendered himself and will remain in custody at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City until the case is over, Cornell said.



Lindner posted a total of $95,000 in bail for his first two stays in jail, but since Lindner agreed to return to custody, the amount was exonerated by Judge Anders Holmes during the hearing, Cornell said.

John Ward, Lindner’s attorney, said the defendant is “devastated” by the incident involving Stewart.

A felony conference for the hit-and-run case is scheduled on Oct. 3. A felony conference is also scheduled on the same date regarding allegations of attempted sexual assault in a separate case.

Lindner pleaded not guilty earlier this month to the attempted sexual assault charges involving a 17-year-old Truckee girl and a 13-year-old girl.

Truckee police learned of the attempted sexual assault allegations while investigating the hit-and-run. The hit-and-run and the sexual assault allegations against Lindner are not related, police said.

Meanwhile, members of the Stewart family, the 17-year-old victim of the alleged attempted assault, and two other females have filed restraining orders against Lindner.

The orders prohibit Lindner from any contact – personal, telephone or written – with the individuals. The restraining orders also state that Lindner cannot come within 100 yards of the protected individuals.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.