Retired teacher now working as Santa faces child sex abuse material charges
Officials say that Mark Paulino uploaded multiple files of suspected child sex abuse materials to the internet.
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A retired teacher who now works as a Santa Claus-for-hire is facing child sex abuse material charges, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officials say that Mark Paulino recently retired as a teacher at Hamilton Township Elementary School. They say he now dresses up as Santa and is available for photographs and private events.
Officials say that Paulino uploaded multiple files of suspected child sex abuse materials to the internet.
“Due to his active engagement with young children in that role [as Santa], detectives worked around the clock to obtain a search warrant,” officials wrote in a statement.
Paulino was arrested on Dec. 5. He was charged with one count of second-degree possession with the intent to distribute CSAM, one count of third-degree possession of CSAM, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
