A brutal assault at a Clark County youth camp has now led to a massive civil judgment, even if it may never be fully paid. A Las Vegas therapist has secured a $20.5 million civil judgment against the teenager who attacked her during an outdoor counseling session at a county-run camp in May 2022. The judgment finds 18-year-old Tavari Pearson liable for what court filings describe as intentional, depraved and violent misconduct, though the therapist’s attorney says collecting the full amount is unlikely. The development comes as Pearson faces fresh criminal charges and remains behind bars.
Default Judgment and Massive Damages
Clark County District Court entered a default judgment against Pearson on Feb. 3, totaling $20.5 million and including punitive damages, according to KTNV. Court records cited by KTNV recount a harrowing sequence in May 2022, when Pearson allegedly shoved the therapist to the ground, pinned her hands, struck her with a rock, strangled her, pushed her into a ravine and sexually assaulted her during what was supposed to be a routine session at the camp.
The same records, as reported by KTNV, state that the victim’s medical bills have already climbed to nearly $140,000. She is said to still suffer from headaches, dizziness, nightmares and panic attacks, consequences her lawyer argues will stay with her far longer than any court proceeding.
County Settlement and Camp Safety Concerns
The therapist filed a civil lawsuit against both Pearson and Clark County, arguing that the county knew about Pearson’s history as a prior sexual offender and failed to warn or adequately protect staff members. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, county officials agreed in March 2025 to pay $300,000 to settle the county’s share of the claim, citing limits imposed by Nevada law.
The lawsuit alleged that camp staff were not given alarms, were left in the dark about safety restrictions on certain outdoor areas and were exposed to risk by gaps in supervision and camera coverage. Those alleged failures, the complaint contended, created the conditions that allowed the attack to unfold out of sight.
Criminal Plea, Sentence and Lingering Anger
Pearson’s criminal case wrapped up far more quickly. As reported by KTNV, he accepted a plea deal and received a six-month jail sentence followed by five years of probation. With credit for roughly two and a half years already spent in custody, however, he was released immediately…