A judge has dismissed conspiracy and kidnapping charges against five Massachusetts college students who were accused of plotting to lure a man to their campus through a dating app and then seizing him as part of a “Catch a Predator” trend on social media.
The Assumption University students, all teenagers, were arraigned in January and entered not guilty pleas. Since then, their lawyers had filed motions seeking to dismiss the charges, saying authorities lacked probable cause to believe they committed crimes.
Following a hearing last month, a Worcester District Court judge on Tuesday dismissed the conspiracy and kidnapping charges against Kelsy Brainard, Easton Randall, Kevin Carroll, Isabella Trudeau and Joaquin Smith. It wasn't immediately known if charges were still pending against a sixth student, whose case was being handled in juvenile court.
Police say Brainard's Tinder account was used to lure the man to the private, Roman Catholic university in Worcester last October and that the encounter was caught on video.
Brainard still faces a charge of witness intimidation and Carroll faces a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
“We are grateful that the court, after a fair hearing and due consideration, applied the law properly,” Brainard's lawyer, Christopher Todd, said in an email Wednesday. “No decisions have been made about our path to resolution of the remaining count."
A message seeking comment was emailed Wednesday to Carroll's lawyer.
The Assumption University Police Department “fulfilled its duty as an accredited law enforcement agency by filing charges describing the facts of the incident and the elements of a crime under Massachusetts law,” university spokesperson Matt McDermott said in an email Wednesday. “The district attorney accepted and prosecuted those charges. All of the charges in the case, including those that remain in place, are within the purview of the judicial system to resolve.”
The district attorney office's rules of professional conduct preclude it from commenting, “as there are still pending cases in this matter,” spokesperson Lindsay Corcoran said in an email.
A report filed by campus police said a 22-year-old active-duty military service member connected with a woman on Tinder in October and was invited inside a basement lounge. Within minutes, “a group of people came out of nowhere and started calling him a pedophile,” accusing him of wanting sex with 17-year-old girls, according to the report.
The man told police that he broke free and was chased by at least 25 people to his car, where he was punched in the head and his car door was slammed on him before he managed to flee.
Campus surveillance video shows a large group of students, including the woman, “all with their cellphones out in what seems to be a recording of the whole episode,” the police statement said. They are seen “laughing and high fiving with each other” in what appeared to be “a deliberately staged event,” and there was no evidence to indicate the man was seeking sexual relations with girls, the police report said.
Todd's motion to dismiss said the video does not show anyone making an active effort to restrain the man and that Brainard stays on the couch in the lounge after he leaves. He said it was insufficient evidence to show “that she was willing to assist in this ‘kidnapping.'" Todd also said there was no evidence of a plan to hold the man against his will.
Todd said a review of the conversation on the Tinder app shows the woman says she is 17, soon to turn 18. The man says “that's fine, you're in college.”
Randall had told officers they were inspired by the “catch a predator” trend, which he said “is big on TikTok." He said their group shared ideas of what to tell the man through the Tinder app to lure him to campus, and then spread word through a dormitory chat group that a “predator” was in the building, the report said.
After the assault, Brainard reported the man to police as a sexual predator, police said, which they determined to be false.
This Jan. 16, 2025 image shows a campus building at Assumption University in Worcester, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert Bukaty)
This Jan. 16, 2025 photo shows an entrance to Assumption University in Worcester, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert Bukaty)
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2025--
Silver Deliverer, the highly anticipated independent sixth studio album from platinum-selling sister duo Aly & AJ, is out today. A career-defining body of work, Silver Deliverer blends sun-drenched California rock, country-tinged folk, and warm, analog textures into an honest and deeply personal album that feels like a love letter to growing up, growing older, and growing free.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250502908526/en/
Out just in time for summer and building momentum into the fall, the release also marks the announcement of Aly & AJ’s headlining must see North American Silver Deliverer Tour, presented by Concerts West / AEG Presents. The tour launches Friday, September 19 in Los Angeles, concluding in Santa Barbara on Sunday, November 9. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 9 at 10am local time HERE. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Amanda Shires will grace the bill and support across all dates.
Arriving after the critical acclaim of their 2023 album With Love From, Silver Deliverer sees Aly & AJ embracing full creative control and crafting their most authentic, self-assured and spiritually resonant record yet. Written and recorded in Topanga Canyon, the album draws from the Laurel Canyon movement while sounding unmistakably fresh and modern. It marks a striking return for the beloved artists: bold, unfiltered, and wholly their own. Brimming with poetic warmth and wisdom that the sister duo has honed over the years, Silver Deliverer reflects on maturing, sisterhood, and self-actualization.
“After 20 years of making music together as sisters we’ve created our most revealing and poignant album to date. Motherhood, personal loss, and traumatic events have rewoven our tapestry of sisterhood. And we’ve done our best to write about it. We hope this music is something to reach for when you’re lost and looking for some deliverance.”
Produced in part by longtime collaborators, including GRAMMY nominated Jonathan Wilson, Silver Deliverer captures Aly & AJ’s signature harmonies across a soundscape rich in organic instrumentation and golden-era storytelling. The album features standout singles including the recent “Dandelions”, the haunting “If You Get Lonely” and “Next to Nothing,” which has received acclaim for Aly & AJ’s iconic harmonies and makes audiences feel like they are “living in the song while listening to it”. The shimmering lead single from the album, “What It FeelsLike”, has already amassed over one million streams on Spotify and over 200K views of its official music video, solidifying the sisters’ ongoing cultural relevance and deepening resonance with fans both old and new.
Presales for the dynamic Silver Deliverer Tour tour begin on Tuesday, May 6 at 10am local time, followed by the general on sale on Friday, May 9 at 10am local time. For Los Angeles fans, the presale will be on Friday, May 16 at 10am PT followed by the general on sale on Tuesday, May 20 at 10am PT. Please see all cities, dates, and venues further below.
In addition to the forthcoming tour, Aly & AJ have been busy kicking off their new era with a slew of high profile performances and major festival appearances including SXSW, Willie Nelson’s Luck Festival, the Sunset Festival and Stagecoach. This is only the beginning as the duo prepares to kick off the album release with performances at Bonnaroo Festival and Milwaukee’s Summerfest.
ALY & AJ SILVER DELIVERER TOUR DATES
September 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Venue Announced Soon
September 25 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
September 26 - Seattle, WA - The Paramount Theatre
September 27 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
September 30 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
October 1 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Union
October 2 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
October 4 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
October 5 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland Theatre
October 7 - St. Louis, MO - The Factory
October 8 - Fort Wayne, IN - Clyde Theatre
October 10 - Chicago, IL - The Salt Shed
October 11 - Columbus, OH - KEMBA Live!
October 12 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
October 14 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
October 15 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
October 17 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
October 19 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner
October 21 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall
October 22 - Washington, D.C. - The Anthem
October 24 - Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium
October 25 - Jacksonville, FL - FIVE
October 26 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
October 28 - Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheater
October 29 - Atlanta, GA - The Eastern
October 31 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
November 1 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre
November 2 - Dallas, TX - The Bomb Factory
November 4 - Phoenix, AZ - Celebrity Theatre
November 5 - San Diego, CA - Humphrey’s Concerts by The Bay - On Sale Now
November 8 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
November 9 - Santa Barbara, CA - Arlington Theatre
ABOUT ALY & AJ:
Aly & AJ, comprised of sisters Aly and AJ Michalka, have captivated audiences around the world with their stirring harmonies, relatable lyrics, and a unique blend of pop and indie-rock influences. From their early days as Disney stars to their triumphant return to the music scene as independent artists, Aly & AJ have evolved into a force to be reckoned with, transcending genres and leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
Their previous album With Love From recorded with a live band at the famous Sunset Sound studio, showcased their genre-spanning artistry, incorporating Americana, folk, country and indie pop, featuring an array of reflective ballads and anthemic tracks. Critics have raved over the album, with Billboard claiming the track “After Hours” “pour[s] one out for the night owls,” while Rolling Stone highlighted and approved the song “Baby Lay Your Head Down.” The California native sisters took the album on the road on their nationwide “With Love From Tour,” which included a milestone performance at Los Angeles’ legendary Greek Theatre for the first time for an unforgettable evening of powerhouse vocals, electrifying performances, and a nostalgic celebration of their remarkable discography.
Aly & AJ first burst onto the scene in the mid-2000s with their debut album Into the Rush in 2005, featuring the hit single " Rush ". Their music resonated with a generation, blending pop sensibilities with their innate ability to craft infectious melodies. Their roles in Disney Channel projects like "Phil of the Future" and "Cow Belles,” catapulted them into the hearts of young audiences worldwide. The release of their second album, Insomniatic, in 2007 showcased their growth as artists, exploring deeper themes and further curating their musical identity.
Spawning hits like " Potential Breakup Song " and " Chemicals React, " Aly & AJ ignited the soundtracks of our lives and solidified their status as superstars.
After a decade-long hiatus, the sisters officially returned to the music scene in 2017 embracing both their roots and newfound maturity, seamlessly transitioning from pop sensations to indie darlings. Their EP " Ten Years " marked a triumphant return to their original sound, featuring the viral hit "Take Me." Their subsequent releases, including the critically acclaimed EP " Sanctuary " in 2019, showcased a powerful blend of synth-pop, dreamy melodies, and introspective lyrics that resonated with fans old and new. As the duo entered the 2020s, their music continued to evolve, delving deeper into themes of love, mental health, and personal growth. Shortly after, they released their first studio album in 14 years, a touch of the beatgets you up on your feet gets you out and then into the sun. This album contains tracks like "Listen!!!" and "Slow Dancing," showcased a newfound vulnerability and an unapologetic embrace of their true selves. Billboard included the album on their list of best albums of the first half of 2021. It was also listed on The Guardian’s list of the 50 best albums of 2021.
CONNECT WITH ALY & AJ:
Website|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|YouTube|TikTok|Spotify|Apple Music
Aly & AJ 32-City North American Tour Launches September 2025
Aly & AJ Release New Album Silver Deliverer
