• Three teens in Benton County, Arkansas, are being charged as adults for the alleged rapes of two young girls in separate incidents.
• The alleged rapes involved alcohol, and videos reportedly exist showing the victims, with allegations of the videos being shared.
• Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Sexton vows to prosecute to the fullest extent and warns against the sharing of videos related to sex crimes.

Three teenagers, Landon Rhine, Bryson McLaughlin, and Elijah Jurgen, are facing adult charges in Benton County, Arkansas, for their alleged involvement in two separate rape incidents that occurred in April 2025. The charges stem from incidents involving two young girls and allegations of sexual assault, intoxication, and the creation and sharing of video recordings of the events. The case has garnered attention due to the severity of the charges, the ages of the suspects and victims, and concerns about the proliferation of the alleged videos.

• What: Three teens are charged as adults for alleged rapes of two girls, involving alcohol, video recordings, and alleged sharing of those videos.
• Who: Landon Rhine (16), Bryson McLaughlin (14), Elijah Jurgen (14) are the accused. Bryan Sexton is the Benton County Prosecuting Attorney. Two unnamed young girls are the alleged victims.
• When: The alleged rapes occurred on April 22 and April 27, 2025. Rhine and McLaughlin turned themselves in on May 2, 2025. The article was published on May 9, 2025.
• Where: Benton County, Arkansas, specifically Bella Vista and Gravette.

The case is significant due to the severity of the crime, the young ages of both the suspects and victims, and the potential impact of circulating videos of the alleged assaults. The decision to charge the teens as adults highlights the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the case. The prosecutor's warning against sharing the videos underscores the potential for further legal repercussions for anyone involved in their distribution, and acknowledges the devastating impact such videos can have on the victims and their families. The fact that Bella Vista police were reportedly familiar with Jurgens and Rhine before the rapes raises further questions, that are not answered in the article.

"This is going to be something that we will be willing to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

"At that point, something that is normally private becomes a public matter."

"These are serious, serious things that are happening. It's not a joke."

The ongoing rape case against the three Arkansas teens will have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only the legal fate of the accused but also the lives of the victims and their families as they navigate the long-term trauma. With the prosecutor committed to a full prosecution, the emergence of videos allegedly depicting the assaults adds a disturbing layer to the case, intensifying community scrutiny. As the legal proceedings unfold, the extent of each teen's involvement will be closely examined, especially regarding the disturbing details revealed in court documents. The victims' path to recovery will require extensive support, and the community must grapple with the broader implications of these alleged crimes and work towards prevention.