Summerlin Private School Student Faces Judge Over Overseas Sexual Assault Case

A high-profile case involving a 15-year-old Summerlin private school student has reached a critical juncture in a Las Vegas courtroom. Defense attorneys for Vaughn Griffith, who attended the Alexander Dawson School, filed a motion this week to disqualify District Judge Christy Craig. The student is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material in connection with a 2025 school trip to Costa Rica. Griffith’s legal team argues that the judge’s recent comments during a March 12 hearing have compromised her impartiality, particularly regarding the decision to try the teen as an adult.

While the alleged sexual assault occurred in Costa Rica—placing it outside the local jurisdiction of District Attorney Steve Wolfson—the possession charges are being handled in Clark County. The defense is specifically challenging the judge’s refusal to delay hearings while they appeal the ruling that moved Griffith from juvenile to adult court. A formal hearing on the motion to remove Judge Craig is scheduled for April 9, highlighting the intense scrutiny surrounding the case.

The incident involving Griffith and several other students has sent ripples through the Summerlin community since it first came to light last spring. As the legal maneuvers continue, the case underscores the complexities of prosecuting crimes involving minors that cross international borders. For now, the focus remains on the structural fairness of the proceedings as the court prepares to address the disqualification motion next month.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal