A retired elementary school teacher who also performs as Santa Claus was arrested Friday in New Jersey on child pornography charges.
Mark Paulino, 64, of Hamilton Township, was taken into custody following a rapid two-day investigation, authorities told NJ.com.
Court documents obtained by the outlet allege that Paulino was flagged after recording a child in a bedroom and emailing the video to someone else. Law enforcement officials seized multiple pieces of evidence from his home before his arrest.
On his website, “Santa Mark,” Paulino described pursuing “his lifelong wish to be Santa Claus” after retiring from teaching in the township in 2021. He previously worked with children since 1984, starting as a substitute teacher while also serving as a lifeguard and swimming instructor.
Paulino has been married for more than two decades to a fellow teacher, though it’s unclear whether they worked at the same school. The couple has two sons, according to his website.
The Santa performer’s site also includes a “Text Santa” feature for FaceTime interactions. During live appearances, Paulino would distribute gifts or candy, lead sing-alongs, tell Christmas stories, and collect children’s holiday gift lists—a common practice for Santa actors.
Paulino faces multiple charges, including possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials, endangering the welfare of a child, abandonment, cruelty and neglect, and a fourth-degree child abuse charge, according to court filings. He is scheduled to appear in Mercer County Superior Court on Tuesday.
This is not the first time a Santa performer has faced criminal charges. In 2024, a North Carolina man with a long history as the community Santa was arrested on 13 counts of child abuse, with authorities suspecting links to a child trafficking ring. In 2019, a Salvation Army Santa in upstate New York was arrested on a prostitution warrant while panhandling for the charity.