A Las Vegas couple says their 4-year-old son was tied to classroom furniture at a Russell Road daycare and that a recording of the incident was shared online. Ricky and Yavonne Plair pulled their son from the Leap Into Learning center after what they say happened on March 3 and have now filed a civil lawsuit in Clark County District Court. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police have opened an abuse-and-neglect investigation while the family pursues civil remedies.
The Plairs told FOX5 that their son, Rich’e, said teachers tied him up and that one employee recorded what was happening. According to the parents, Rich’e told investigators he was bound to a chair "for a long time like two minutes." The family’s attorneys told FOX5 they expect to subpoena video and other records from the daycare to fill in the details of what occurred.
Where It Allegedly Happened
Leap Into Learning lists its Russell Road site at 6395 E. Russell Road and advertises several locations around the Las Vegas Valley. The chain’s website highlights classroom surveillance and a lobby monitor that lets staff and parents watch live footage, along with extended hours and a stated focus on safety and early education. The family says that same recorded footage, once it is turned over, will be central evidence in their case.
Police Report and Lawsuit Allegations
According to reporting by FOX5, Metro police are treating the matter as an abuse-and-neglect investigation and list both a suspect and a person of interest in their report. At the time of publication, neither individual was facing criminal charges. The civil complaint filed in Clark County District Court alleges staff "abused their position of authority and trust" and humiliated the child in front of classmates.
Court papers and the police report differ slightly over whether Rich’e was tied to a chair leg or a table leg, a detail the family’s lawyers say they plan to clarify through subpoenas for surveillance video and personnel records.
What Regulators Can Do
Nevada’s Child Care Licensing program, part of the state’s Division of Public and Behavioral Health, oversees licensing and complaint investigations for child care facilities that care for five or more children. The agency can inspect centers and impose sanctions when it substantiates violations. Parents can file complaints and request investigations through the state system, which outlines its procedures and enforcement powers in its child care licensing FAQs. Rules governing inspections and enforcement are set out in Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 432A.
What Comes Next
Investigators and the courts will ultimately decide whether the footage and witness statements support criminal charges, civil liability, both, or neither. The family’s attorneys say the video will be a key piece of evidence. The civil case in Clark County remains active and could lead to depositions and subpoenas for staff members and records.
For now, Rich’e is back at home with his parents, and the Russell Road center continues to operate under a cloud of scrutiny as police and state licensing authorities review what happened inside that classroom.
