A retired elementary schoolteacher from New Jersey, who had been working as a Santa impersonator at various public and private gatherings, has been apprehended on several charges related to child sexual abuse material. Authorities were able to trace illicit uploads back to him, leading to his arrest, according to prosecutors.
The Mercer County Prosecutor, Janetta D. Marbrey, announced on Monday that 64-year-old Mark Paulino faces multiple charges. These include second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material, second-degree possession of said material with intent to distribute, third-degree possession, and endangering the welfare of a child.
The charges against Paulino, who previously taught at a Hamilton Township elementary school in New Jersey, are the result of an investigation conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit of Marbrey’s office. This probe was part of a larger effort to address online child exploitation.
The investigation was initiated after detectives received a tip from the New Jersey State Police ICAC Unit on December 4. They had detected that an individual from Hamilton Township, located in Mercer County, had uploaded several suspected files of child sexual abuse material to the internet.
Subsequent inquiries led investigators to identify Paulino as a person of interest in the case. His arrest is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against online exploitation, underscoring the importance of vigilance and thorough investigations in protecting the most vulnerable.
An investigation followed, and investigators identified Paulino as a person of interest.
According to the prosecutor, Paulino said on his website that he recently retired from the Hamilton Township School District as an elementary schoolteacher and now works as a Santa character available for photographs and private, organizational and corporate events.
Because of his engagement with young children in that role, detectives “worked around the clock” to obtain a warrant to search Paulino’s residence.
A New Jersey man who impersonates Santa faces serious charges after he was allegedly found to be in possession of child sexual abuse materials. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Investigators executed the warrant at his Hamilton Township home on Friday with assistance from the prosecutor’s Economic Crime, Cyber Crimes and Domestic Violence units, as well as the Hamilton Police SWAT team.
Detectives seized multiple pieces of evidence during the search, but details were not released because the investigation is open and ongoing.
Detectives seized multiple pieces of evidence from Paulino’s residence. (iStock)
Prosecutors have filed a motion to detain Paulino pending trial.
Paulino has since been taken into custody without incident, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors encourage anyone with information about the investigation to contact the ICAC Unit at (609) 989-6568 or submit an anonymous tip at mercercountyprosecutor.com.
Marbrey also encouraged anyone with information about “information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation and sexual abuse of children” to report it to the ICAC Unit or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.
