A Massachusetts judge has dismissed the conspiracy and kidnapping charges against five college students from Assumption University, who were accused of attempting to lure a man to their campus using a dating app and then detaining him as part of a “Catch a Predator” social media trend. The students, who are all teenagers, had previously pleaded not guilty after being charged earlier in the year.
The legal representatives for the students filed motions contesting the charges, arguing that there was no probable cause for the alleged crimes. Subsequently, a Worcester District Court judge dismissed the charges against Kelsy Brainard, Easton Randall, Kevin Carroll, Isabella Trudeau, and Joaquin Smith following a court hearing. Information regarding ongoing charges against a sixth student, whose case is being tried in juvenile court, is not immediately available.
According to police statements, Kelsy Brainard’s Tinder account was utilized to entice the man to the university’s campus last October, and the interaction was reportedly recorded on video. Despite the dismissal, Brainard still faces a charge of witness intimidation, while Kevin Carroll is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Christopher Todd, Brainard’s attorney, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating, “We are grateful that the court, after a fair hearing and due consideration, applied the law properly.” However, Brainard’s defense team has yet to determine their approach regarding the remaining charge. Meanwhile, Kevin Carroll’s lawyer has been contacted for comments.
Matt McDermott, a spokesperson for the university, commented that Assumption University’s Police Department executed their duty by filing charges that represented the reported facts and conformed to Massachusetts law. Furthermore, McDermott emphasized that the district attorney accepted and pursued these charges, and the resolution of all charges lies with the judicial system.
The district attorney’s office, citing professional conduct standards, refrained from commenting as several cases are still pending, according to spokesperson Lindsay Corcoran.
In the initial report logged by campus police, a 22-year-old active-duty military member connected with a woman on Tinder last October and was invited to a basement lounge. Shortly after he arrived, a group confronted him, accusing him of intending to have sex with underage girls and labeling him a “pedophile.” The victim managed to escape and reach his vehicle but reported being attacked in the process.
Campus surveillance captured a large assembly of students, including the woman involved, documenting the incident on their phones. Police noted the scene appeared orchestrated, with participants laughing and celebrating, concluding there was no evidence of the man pursuing illegal activities.
The defense, led by Todd, argued that the video evidence failed to show any effort to restrain the alleged victim and that Brainard did not leave the lounge to partake in the incident. Todd maintained there was insufficient proof of the alleged kidnapping or intent to detain the man against his will.
The Tinder conversation in question indicated that the woman mentioned she was 17 but soon to be 18, to which the military man responded indifferently about her age due to her being in college.
Randall, in statements to police, admitted the group was influenced by a “Catch a Predator” trend popularly circulated on TikTok, leading them to devise a plan to lure the man through the app and alert others in the dorm of a “predator” presence.
Brainard later reported the man as a sexual predator, a claim investigators determined to be unfounded.