Charges dismissed in alleged campus vigilante ‘Catch a Predator’ sting
In a surprising turn of events, a judge has dismissed kidnapping and conspiracy charges against five Massachusetts college students who were accused of luring a man to their campus in a “Catch a Predator” style scheme using a dating app. The decision came after lawyers for the teenage Assumption University students argued that prosecutors lacked probable cause, leading to the charges being dropped.
The five students, Kelsey Brainard, Isabella Trudeau, Joaquin Smith, Kevin Carroll, and Easton Randall, had been facing serious allegations after allegedly using Brainard’s Tinder account to pose as a 17-year-old woman and luring a 22-year-old active-duty military service member to the university in October. However, the judge ruled in favor of the defendants, stating that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the charges.
“We are grateful that the court, after a fair hearing and due consideration, applied the law properly,” said Christopher Todd, Brainard’s lawyer, in an email to the Associated Press. “No decisions have been made about our path to resolution of the remaining count.”
The Worcester District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case, citing pending legal matters. It is unclear at this time what the status is of a sixth student who was charged as a juvenile in connection with the incident.
According to prosecutors, the group of students confronted the man in a campus basement lounge, accusing him of being a predator. The man claimed that he was assaulted and chased by at least 25 people before managing to escape in his car. Surveillance footage showed the group chasing the man, but the defense argued that there was no evidence to suggest that they intended to hold him against his will.
Following the incident, Randall reportedly told officers that the group was inspired by the “catch a predator” trend on TikTok and recruited students through their dormitory chat. The Tinder conversation between the group and the victim allegedly showed the woman falsely claiming to be 17 years old, leading to the man being accused of inappropriate behavior.
While the kidnapping and conspiracy charges have been dismissed, Carroll still faces an assault and battery charge with a dangerous weapon, and Brainard is charged with witness intimidation. The university spokesperson stated that the Assumption University Police Department had fulfilled its duty by filing charges based on the facts of the incident, and that all remaining charges would be resolved through the judicial system.
It remains to be seen how the remaining charges will be handled, and the defendants’ attorneys have not yet provided a response to the latest developments in the case. The situation serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in cases of this nature, and the importance of a thorough legal process in determining the truth.
