Teen charged as adult for alleged Costa Rica field trip assault

Prosecutors say Vaughn Griffith recorded video of the abuse on his Snapchat account.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:15pm

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A 15-year-old boy has been charged as an adult for allegedly sexually assaulting a classmate during a school trip to Costa Rica and recording the acts on his Snapchat account. Vaughn Griffith faces one felony count of possessing a visual presentation depicting the sexual conduct of a child in connection with the April 2025 incident.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing concerns around the sexual exploitation of minors and the use of technology to document and distribute such abuse. It also raises questions about the legal system's approach to prosecuting juvenile offenders in serious criminal cases.

The details

According to prosecutors, Griffith was part of a group of students from Dawson Middle School, a private school in Summerlin, Nevada, who went on a week-long field trip to Costa Rica. During the trip, Griffith allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old classmate and recorded a two-minute, 16-second video of the incident, switching between the front-facing and rear cameras on his phone.

  • The alleged incident occurred in April 2025 during the school field trip to Costa Rica.
  • Griffith was indicted on January 15, 2026.

The players

Vaughn Griffith

A 15-year-old boy who has been charged as an adult for allegedly sexually assaulting a classmate during a school trip to Costa Rica and recording the acts on his Snapchat account.

Dawson Middle School

A private school in Summerlin, Nevada, where the victim and Griffith were students and from which the group went on the Costa Rica field trip.

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What’s next

Records indicate that Griffith has posted a $20,000 bail. The judge will decide whether to allow him to remain out on bail.

The takeaway

This disturbing case underscores the need for increased education, prevention, and accountability measures to protect students from sexual abuse, both during school activities and in the digital realm.