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Six students were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy after allegedly luring an active-duty service member to their campus in a violent, staged “To Catch a Predator”-inspired TikTok plot.
The students from Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, used a dating app to trick the soldier in October 2024.
Kelsy Brainard, 18, Easton Randall, 19, Kevin Carroll, 18, Isabella Trudeau, 18, and Joaquin Smith, 18, appeared at their arraignment for conspiracy and kidnapping charges on Thursday (January 16).
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Six teenage students were charged after carrying out a TikTok-inspired plot
Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
The group of youths is reportedly accused of using Kelsy’s Tinder account to lure their 22-year-old victim to the private Roman Catholic school.
The sixth student involved in the alleged crime, a minor, was arraigned in juvenile court, The New York Post reported on Friday (January 17).
The victim reportedly told police that he was in the area for his grandmother’s funeral and was on the dating app because he “just wanted to be around people that were happy.”
Image credits: IMDb
As per The Post, Kelsy was consequently accused of walking the unidentified service member down to a basement lounge, where a group of students came out and allegedly grabbed their victim and stopped him from leaving.
“A group of people came out of nowhere and started calling him a pedophile,” the Associated Press reported, citing a campus police report.
A Tinder account was used to lure the victim
Image credits: NEWS CENTER Maine
The students reportedly accused the soldier of wanting to have sex with 17-year-old girls.
In Massachusetts, the legal age of consent is 16 years old, meaning individuals aged 16 or older can legally engage in consensual sexual activity, Nate Amendola Defense explains.
Therefore, a 22-year-old and a 17-year-old can legally have sexual relations under Massachusetts law.
Image credits: NEWS CENTER Maine
However, Massachusetts does not have a “Romeo and Juliet” law, which in some states provides legal protections for consensual sexual activity between minors that are close in age, according to Riccio Law.
This means that while a 17-year-old can legally consent to sex with an older individual, those under 16 cannot legally consent to sexual activity, regardless of the age of their partner, as per The Fernandez Firm.
Image credits: NEWS CENTER Maine
Upon being ambushed, the serviceman reportedly managed to break free from the basement but was allegedly chased back to his car by approximately 25 people, most of whom recorded the chase with their phones, The Post reported.
The soldier ended up being punched by one of the students and eventually fled before calling the police to report the alleged assault.
The victim reportedly said the person who punched him in the head was a juvenile who was already known to police.
The victim was yelled at by the group of students and labeled a “pedophile”
Image credits: Craig F. Walker/Getty Images
Nevertheless, Kelsy also filed a police report claiming there was a sexual predator on campus, and she was frightened, in addition to alleging that one of her male friends chased the soldier, who was labeled an “uninvited guest,” according to The Post.
Campus video has since confirmed that Kelsy led the solider into the building who was seen running from a group of students shortly after, including her, all with their cell phones, WWLP reported on Friday.
“The interaction depicted in the footage occurs from start to finish in 2.35 minutes and does not appear to be a random occurrence but a deliberately staged event,” Worcester police said in a report.
All of the students were below the age of 20
Image credits: Craig F. Walker/Getty Images
In the case’s court documents, Worcester police further revealed that after a review of the footage, it was determined that the report filed by Kelsy was allegedly false and led police to believe a sexual predator was on campus.
Furthermore, a review of Kelsy’s Tinder profile, which indicates she was 18 years old, showed messages between her and the victim that police believe did not indicate he was looking for underage girls to meet.
Image credits: KKTV
Police also found that a small portion of the students’ group allegedly conspired to lure the victim and solicited assistance through texts about “catching a predator,” an incident meant to emulate a TikTok trend, WWLP reported.
The TikTok “catching a predator” trend involves individuals or groups creating staged scenarios to confront alleged sexual predators, often recording and posting the encounters online.
Inspired by shows like To Catch a Predator, participants typically use fake online profiles to lure targets into meeting and then ambush them with accusations of predatory behavior.
“Hello prison. Goodbye future,” read one of the comments
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What do you think ?
Pencil 10 months ago
Forget for a minute how stupid this is and think about the intentional cruelty. They KNEW he wasn't seeking a minor and their plan was to have him arrested and sent to prison for it anyway. He wasn't even a human being to them. Just a prop in their craven lust for internet fame. Absolutely sickening. I hope they all get therapy. In prison.
Taibhse Sealgair 10 months ago
People who file false police reports, accuse others of being criminals, lie about crimes that never happened should get the maximum punishment of the alleged crime as punishment. Ten years for being a predator? Ten years each for these idiots.
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Binky Melnik 10 months ago
You *are* aware there are other social media platforms, right? They’d fill the void if TikTok actually goes away. People will simply migrate to one of those, not to mention devs are prolly working on new TikTok-alikes as we type.
Load More Replies...
Beth Wheeler 10 months ago
Throw the book at them then throw the keys away on these little dumbasses. All of them have been or will be kicked out of college for this especially being a private school.
Inglourioustmnt 10 months ago
@CP they lured and kidnapped someone, and intended to frame him for a heinous crime and destroy his life. If you think that deserves a slap on the wrist you are a complete fool. They knew full well what they did was wrong. Acting like the stole a candy bar is ridiculous. Get your head examined
Load More Replies...
BeKind&Rewind 10 months ago
I read an article that says that all of our devices and what we do with them are quite literally lowering the overall IQ of the developed world. It's sad. Kids CANNOT read cursive now nor can they tell time on a clock. I see it every single day as an educator. I'm terrified for the future!
Load More Replies...
WonderWoman 10 months ago
More nice good Christians ::eyeroll:: This man was victimized by little monsters who wanted to create a scenario where they could assault an innocent person. Hopefully the full extent of the law slams them right up side of the head. Prison is a deterrent NOT a slap on the wrist.
Bryn 10 months ago
And this is why I'm so thrilled that this app is going bye bye in two days. It's this "viral" c**p.
Paul Sloan 10 months ago
Tik Tok will offer a piece of the pie to one of the Trumps as a gesture of good faith.
Load More Replies...
Chris the Bobcat 10 months ago
I'm 51 years old and people still wonder why I am a misanthrope. Human beings are capable of the most revolting sh!t imaginable. I can honestly say I wouldn't care if the species was wiped out by a virus, myself included.
David 10 months ago
This article could use an editor. Wrong tense used, double negatives used and so on. "she had messages between her and the victim that police believe did not indicate he was not looking for underage girls to meet"
DramaDoc 10 months ago
I don't think it actually matters how old the girl is: Her profile claimed she was 18 and the victim had no way of knowing if that was the truth. The whole point of "To Catch a Predator" is these grown-a*s adults KNOWINGLY making "dates" with people whom they believe to be 13, 14, 15, etc. The victim made plans in good faith with someone representing themselves as a legal adult where nothing sêxual was even hinted at and these morons attempted a staged entrapment scenario. It would be an entirely different situation if they had said the girl was 14 and the victim knowingly set something up. These kids deserve everything they get and more.
Carl Roberts 10 months ago
As much as I hate TikTok, this issue isn't exclusive to that platform. We now have an entire generation of narcissists who only care about going "viral" for 15 minutes, and they don't care who gets hurt in the process.
Chris Landrum 10 months ago
because they go to a nice school nothing but 50 hours community service will be what they get
GalPalAl 10 months ago
I have said it once and will say it again. If the internet is full of fake information, and Tik Tok in under scrutiny now, why do so many people try trends posted online? Not rhetorical. Someone explain to me what you get out of it other than destroying someone's career or ending their life? You brain should be tellling you how to get ahead in life by doing something productive. Not trying to impress because a bunch of people follow your social media account like a pied piper? Stupid.
Judes 10 months ago
It's explained in the article that the age of consent in Massachusetts is 16 years old. This means that legally any adult can have consential sex with a 16 year old. So, whether he thought the girl was 17 or 18 has no legal relevance to the case at all.
Load More Replies... Pencil 10 months ago
Forget for a minute how stupid this is and think about the intentional cruelty. They KNEW he wasn't seeking a minor and their plan was to have him arrested and sent to prison for it anyway. He wasn't even a human being to them. Just a prop in their craven lust for internet fame. Absolutely sickening. I hope they all get therapy. In prison.
Taibhse Sealgair 10 months ago
People who file false police reports, accuse others of being criminals, lie about crimes that never happened should get the maximum punishment of the alleged crime as punishment. Ten years for being a predator? Ten years each for these idiots.
Load More Replies... Binky Melnik 10 months ago
You *are* aware there are other social media platforms, right? They’d fill the void if TikTok actually goes away. People will simply migrate to one of those, not to mention devs are prolly working on new TikTok-alikes as we type.
Load More Replies... Beth Wheeler 10 months ago
Throw the book at them then throw the keys away on these little dumbasses. All of them have been or will be kicked out of college for this especially being a private school.
Inglourioustmnt 10 months ago
@CP they lured and kidnapped someone, and intended to frame him for a heinous crime and destroy his life. If you think that deserves a slap on the wrist you are a complete fool. They knew full well what they did was wrong. Acting like the stole a candy bar is ridiculous. Get your head examined
Load More Replies... BeKind&Rewind 10 months ago
I read an article that says that all of our devices and what we do with them are quite literally lowering the overall IQ of the developed world. It's sad. Kids CANNOT read cursive now nor can they tell time on a clock. I see it every single day as an educator. I'm terrified for the future!
Load More Replies... WonderWoman 10 months ago
More nice good Christians ::eyeroll:: This man was victimized by little monsters who wanted to create a scenario where they could assault an innocent person. Hopefully the full extent of the law slams them right up side of the head. Prison is a deterrent NOT a slap on the wrist.
Bryn 10 months ago
And this is why I'm so thrilled that this app is going bye bye in two days. It's this "viral" c**p.
Paul Sloan 10 months ago
Tik Tok will offer a piece of the pie to one of the Trumps as a gesture of good faith.
Load More Replies... Chris the Bobcat 10 months ago
I'm 51 years old and people still wonder why I am a misanthrope. Human beings are capable of the most revolting sh!t imaginable. I can honestly say I wouldn't care if the species was wiped out by a virus, myself included.
David 10 months ago
This article could use an editor. Wrong tense used, double negatives used and so on. "she had messages between her and the victim that police believe did not indicate he was not looking for underage girls to meet"
DramaDoc 10 months ago
I don't think it actually matters how old the girl is: Her profile claimed she was 18 and the victim had no way of knowing if that was the truth. The whole point of "To Catch a Predator" is these grown-a*s adults KNOWINGLY making "dates" with people whom they believe to be 13, 14, 15, etc. The victim made plans in good faith with someone representing themselves as a legal adult where nothing sêxual was even hinted at and these morons attempted a staged entrapment scenario. It would be an entirely different situation if they had said the girl was 14 and the victim knowingly set something up. These kids deserve everything they get and more.
Carl Roberts 10 months ago
As much as I hate TikTok, this issue isn't exclusive to that platform. We now have an entire generation of narcissists who only care about going "viral" for 15 minutes, and they don't care who gets hurt in the process.
Chris Landrum 10 months ago
because they go to a nice school nothing but 50 hours community service will be what they get
GalPalAl 10 months ago
I have said it once and will say it again. If the internet is full of fake information, and Tik Tok in under scrutiny now, why do so many people try trends posted online? Not rhetorical. Someone explain to me what you get out of it other than destroying someone's career or ending their life? You brain should be tellling you how to get ahead in life by doing something productive. Not trying to impress because a bunch of people follow your social media account like a pied piper? Stupid.
Judes 10 months ago
It's explained in the article that the age of consent in Massachusetts is 16 years old. This means that legally any adult can have consential sex with a 16 year old. So, whether he thought the girl was 17 or 18 has no legal relevance to the case at all.
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