Students Charged in ‘To Catch a Predator’ TikTok Scheme

Five Massachusetts college students have been accused of orchestrating a scheme inspired by the television show To Catch a Predator and a popular TikTok trend, according to police reports. The incident, which unfolded on the Assumption University campus, involved luring a man to the location under false pretenses.

A criminal complaint filed in Worcester District Court on Dec. 4 alleges that the students, part of a larger group, invited the man through the dating app Tinder, where one student, Kelsy Brainard, 18, posed as an adult. Once the man arrived, expecting to meet an adult, he was confronted, accused of being a sexual predator, and prevented from leaving the student lounge. The group recorded the encounter, calling it a “deliberately staged event,” according to campus police at Assumption University, a Catholic institution in Worcester.

Police stated that two students physically assaulted the man. However, there was no evidence suggesting he intended to meet minors, and Ms. Brainard’s Tinder profile clearly listed her age as 18. The man’s age was not disclosed in the complaint.

The confrontation occurred on Oct. 1, with videos of the incident circulating among students before coming to the attention of authorities. The complaint details how the man had been sitting with Ms. Brainard, maintaining “ample personal space,” and watching a baseball game when a group of students suddenly appeared from hiding. They verbally attacked him, labeling him a “sexual offender,” and physically restrained him when he attempted to leave.

The man eventually escaped but was pursued by approximately 25 students. During the chase, a minor punched him in the back of the head, and another student, Kevin Carroll, 18, allegedly slammed a car door on him as he reached his vehicle. It is unclear whether the man sustained injuries or sought medical attention.

Campus surveillance footage and student interviews corroborated the incident. Police observed students returning to the building afterward, laughing and congratulating each other.

Easton Randall, 19, one of the accused, told police the group was influenced by To Catch a Predator and viral TikTok trends that involve confronting alleged predators. The NBC series, which aired from 2004 to 2008, used undercover stings to lure men into meeting decoys posing as teenagers, with confrontations often filmed and sensationalized. The show received criticism for its methods, ethical concerns, and partnership with law enforcement, and one case resulted in a $108 million lawsuit after a suspect died by suicide during a sting operation.https://wordpress.com/

At Assumption University, police identified a “core group” of six students responsible for the scheme. Five of them, including Mr. Randall, Ms. Brainard, Isabella Trudeau, 18, and Joaquin Smith, 18, face charges of kidnapping and conspiracy. Mr. Carroll is additionally charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon, while Ms. Brainard is accused of intimidation. The minor involved has not been named in court documents.

In a statement, Assumption University President Greg Weiner condemned the students’ actions as “abhorrent” and contrary to the institution’s values. He emphasized that the university’s Department of Public Safety acted promptly to investigate the matter.

“This situation is especially disheartening as the victim is an active-duty military service member,” Mr. Weiner stated. “His service reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who defend our freedoms, including access to higher education.”

The students are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 16. Lawyers for the defendants were not immediately available for comment.