Second Las Vegas Private School Student Charged as Adult in Alleged Group Sexual Assault Case
Prosecutors have confirmed that a second 15-year-old boy from a prestigious Las Vegas private school has been charged as an adult in connection with an alleged group sexual assault against another student during a class trip to Costa Rica. Dominic Kim, a student at the exclusive Alexander Dawson School, is accused of being one of at least four pupils involved in the attack, which took place in April 2025.
Serious Allegations and Video Evidence
According to court documents, Kim is charged with possessing child sexual abuse material, as well as counts of child abuse, neglect, or endangerment. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Stacy Kollins told a judge that Kim "continued to torture" the victim by showing videos of the assault well after the incident occurred. Prosecutors allege that Kim later displayed a recording of the attack to children at an event held at the Meadows School.
A civil lawsuit filed by the victim's family further claims that Kim threatened to kill anyone he showed the footage to if they disclosed it to authorities. The case has drawn significant attention due to the severity of the accusations and the decision to try the teenagers as adults.
Legal Proceedings and Defence Arguments
Defence lawyer Josh Tomsheck contested the move to try Kim as an adult, arguing in court that while his client may have acted foolishly by sharing videos, his intent did not align with the state's portrayal. "I'm not disputing he did dumb stuff by showing videos, but his intent behind it wasn't what the state is trying to proclaim," Tomsheck stated.
However, a judge previously transferred Kim's case to the adult system, describing the allegations as serious, heinous, and egregious. Kim was released on a $30,000 bond, with strict conditions including electronic monitoring, surrender of his passport, and a prohibition on contact with the alleged victim or other minors.
Background of the Incident and Previous Charges
Another student, Vaughn Griffith, also 15, was charged in connection with the same incident back in January. Detectives say Griffith recorded a video of the sexual assault and is likewise being tried as an adult. Clark County Chief Judge Jerry Wiese has sealed the video evidence, which prosecutors confirm contains child sexual abuse material.
Police reports indicate that Griffith, Kim, and at least two other eighth-grade students subjected a classmate to sustained bullying during the school trip. Investigators allege that the group stripped the victim and threw his clothes onto a balcony at the Hotel Manuel Antonio. Two days later, the situation escalated when the boys "pinned him down and pulled his underwear [down]," then sexually assaulted him on a bed.
The victim, who told police he had been bullied by the group previously, stated he did not consent to the interaction. Griffith's indictment reportedly references a two-minute 16-second video depicting a "graphic and violent sexual assault" that was allegedly posted on Snapchat and saved in his 'Memories'.
School Response and Investigation Challenges
The abuse came to light after the victim confided in his stepmother, who then reported it to school principal Roxanne Stansbury. The Alexander Dawson School, which charges $32,500 per year in tuition, issued a statement acknowledging the "serious allegations involving male middle school students." The school emphasised that it takes such claims incredibly seriously and promptly reported them to law enforcement.
Due to the alleged misconduct involving middle school students, the school declined to comment further. Police have noted that at least two other students linked to the case have not been charged, citing cross-border jurisdiction issues. Officials in Costa Rica were reportedly not aware of any formal sexual assault reports connected to the matter as of April 4.
Ongoing Legal Process and Future Hearings
Authorities have clarified that the teenagers cannot be prosecuted in the United States for sexual assault allegations because the incident occurred overseas. The FBI's Las Vegas Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is understood to have supported the investigation.
Both Kim and Griffith are scheduled to return to court for their initial plea hearings on April 14. Griffith has already pleaded not guilty, while Kim has yet to enter a plea. The case file remains under seal as legal proceedings continue.
