Retired NJ Teacher and Santa Arrested on Child Abuse Charges

A 64-year-old retired elementary school teacher from Hamilton Township, New Jersey, who performed as a Santa Claus character at community events, was arrested Friday on charges of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Mark Paulino faces multiple felony counts, including second-degree possession with intent to distribute child sexual abuse images, second-degree distribution of such material, third-degree possession, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. He also faces a fourth-degree charge of child abuse, abandonment, cruelty, and neglect, court documents show. The investigation began December 4 when detectives in the prosecutor's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit received information about uploads of suspected child sexual abuse material from a Hamilton Township residence.

Authorities identified Paulino as the suspect and moved quickly to secure a search warrant, citing his ongoing interactions with children through his Santa role. "Due to Paulino's active engagement with young children as a Santa character who is available for photographs and private, corporate, and organizational events, detectives...