LOWELL — A Mass Daily News report on a judge who set $0 bail for two men accused of traveling to a Lowell hotel to meet a 15-year-old has sparked intense backlash online, with thousands of Massachusetts residents calling for the judge to be fired and demanding answers from Governor Healey's office.

The original report revealed that Judge Cara Krysil released both men on personal recognizance after they were arrested in an internet sting operation. Both walked free the next day.

Judge sets $0 bail for two men who showed up with cash to meet a 15-year-old at a Mass. hotel — both walked free the next day

https://t.co/uR64oNmEY9— Mass Daily News (@MassDailyNews) March 1, 2026

When MDN followed up with a second post noting that Judge Krysil was appointed by Governor Maura Healey in 2024 and that one of the arrested men required a Portuguese interpreter at his arraignment, the response was immediate and overwhelming.

The judge, Cara Krysil, who freed two predators on $0 bail after they were caught driving to a Lowell hotel to meet a 15-year-old — was appointed by Mass. Governor Healey (D) in 2024

One of the men arrested required a Portuguese interpreter at his arraignment earlier this week pic.twitter.com/RMMlGsmWsW— Mass Daily News (@MassDailyNews) March 2, 2026

That post has racked up over 100,000 views, 4,600 likes and nearly 300 replies in a matter of hours, with the reaction from readers almost universally furious. The original article tweet pulled in over 900 likes and 126 replies of its own.

'Fire her'

The comments section reads like a town hall that's gone completely off the rails. Readers are demanding the judge be removed, calling for criminal charges against her, and tagging everyone from ICE to the FBI to Elon Musk.

@MassDailyNews Fire this Judge for not doing the job that she is paid handsomely to do. And of course a Healey appointed judge.— TogaDave (@TogaDave) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews Charge the judge with exploitation of a minor, endangering a minor and accessory to rape— Alex Arriola (@arriola_real) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews This judge should have to house these pedos in her house with her children!— ponz1227 (@ponz1227) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews Another shining example of a far left activist judge looking the other way while criminals get away Scott free— Taryn McCarthy (@tarynmccarthy16) March 2, 2026

Others connected the decision directly to Governor Healey, who appointed Krysil to the bench.

@MassDailyNews Good Lord.

She should be on the hook same as the perps if they re-offend.— sauceandsnipe87 (@sauceandsnipe87) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews Makes sense. Let the pedophiles and rapists continue to prey on the innocent.— The Red Texian (@theredtexian) March 2, 2026

'Why do they hate us?'

Beyond the calls for the judge's removal, many replies reflected a deeper frustration with Massachusetts' political establishment and its approach to criminal justice.

@MassDailyNews The judges are the problem in America. A big problem.— Small Government Liberty (@SmallGovLiberty) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews Why do they hate us? What did we ever do to them?— C_sachmo9 (@C_sachmo9) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews Why bother having judges? Especially bribed judges— L Mcgowan (@LMcgowan85746) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews It's why I left Mass 23 years ago.— cujobassplayer (@cujobassplayer) March 2, 2026

Some took aim at the broader political system that produced the appointment.

@MassDailyNews Time to face it that some in the ruling class want child sex abuse to be legal.— Smaller Government (@SmallerGovernmt) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews That's shady AF. Making your family proud, your honor.— burtsogood (@burtsogood) March 2, 2026

@MassDailyNews Cause they're all Harvard graduate judges— James Garrinski 🇺🇸 (@JamesGarrinski) March 2, 2026

The story that set it off

The original MDN report detailed how two men were caught in an internet sting operation after allegedly arranging to meet what they believed was a 15-year-old at a Lowell hotel. Both showed up with cash. Both were arrested. And both were released on $0 bail the next day by Judge Krysil.

The detail that one of the accused required a Portuguese interpreter at his arraignment added another layer to the backlash, with readers questioning how someone who does not speak English ended up arranging to meet a minor at a Massachusetts hotel.

A pattern of frustration

The reaction fits a broader pattern of growing public anger at Massachusetts judges over bail decisions. The state's bail system has faced criticism from both sides, with progressives arguing it penalizes the poor and conservatives arguing it puts the public at risk.

In this case, the criticism is coming from one direction: nearly every reply expresses disbelief that two men accused of attempting to meet a child for sex were released without having to post a single dollar in bail.

Neither Judge Krysil's office nor Governor Healey's office has publicly responded to the backlash.