Las Vegas Teens Charged as Adults in Case Connected to Alleged Sexual Assault During Costa Rica School Trip

LAS VEGAS — Two Las Vegas teenagers are facing charges as adults in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving eighth-grade students during a school trip to Costa Rica.

The case dates back to April 2025, when students from The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain traveled to Costa Rica as part of an eighth-grade class trip.

According to police and court records, a male student reported that he was restrained and sexually assaulted by several classmates during the trip. Investigators later obtained video that police said depicted portions of the alleged assault.

Four students were identified during the investigation. Two of them, Vaughn Griffith and Dominic Kim, both now 15, have since been transferred from Nevada’s juvenile justice system and charged as adults.

Griffith Charged as Adult

Authorities allege Griffith, who was 14 at the time of the incident, recorded video during the alleged assault.

A Clark County grand jury indicted Griffith on a felony count of possession of a visual presentation depicting sexual conduct involving a child.

Griffith was released after a family member posted $20,000 bail. His release conditions include electronic monitoring, restrictions on internet access, no contact with the alleged victim and surrender of his passport.

Second Teen Also Faces Adult Charges

Kim was later certified for prosecution as an adult and added as a co-defendant.

He faces one count of possession of a visual presentation depicting sexual conduct involving a child and two counts of child abuse, neglect or endangerment.

Kim was released after posting $30,000 bail and is subject to similar restrictions while the case remains pending.

Prosecutors have said sexual-assault charges related to the alleged attack itself cannot be pursued in Nevada because the incident occurred in Costa Rica.

The two other teenagers identified during the investigation have not been charged in Nevada.

Adult Court Cases Challenged

Attorneys representing Griffith and Kim have challenged the decisions that moved their cases from juvenile to adult court.

The adult criminal proceedings were subsequently placed on hold while those legal challenges are considered.

Both teenagers are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Family Sues Las Vegas Private School

Separate from the criminal proceedings, the alleged victim’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain and school officials.

The lawsuit alleges the student had experienced bullying before the Costa Rica trip and accuses the school of failing to adequately protect him.

The family also alleges school officials failed to properly respond to previous incidents involving students accused of bullying and mishandled circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.

Attorneys representing the school have disputed allegations made in the lawsuit. The claims against the school remain allegations and have not been established as findings of fact.

Case Continues More Than a Year Later

The criminal and civil cases remain separate proceedings stemming from the April 2025 school trip.

Griffith and Kim continue to face adult criminal charges while their attorneys challenge their transfers from juvenile court. The family’s lawsuit against the private school also remains part of the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the case.

Pulse Radio 96.1 will continue to follow developments in the case.