‘Paedophile Santa for hire’ arrested and charged with child sex abuse offences | World | News
A man working as a “Santa for hire” has been arrested over allegations he distributed child sexual abuse images, and police have issued an urgent warning over his regular interaction with young people at festive events.
Authorities in Mercer County, New Jersey, confirmed Monday that Mark Paulino, 64, of Hamilton Township, was arrested and charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials, as well as endangering the welfare of a child.
According to investigators, the investigation began on Dec. 4, 2025, when detectives received an alert about someone allegedly uploading images of child pornography from an address in Paulino’s hometown.
Police quickly identified Paulino, who claimed to be a retired elementary school teacher online, as the suspect in question.
Police officers say he recently took on the role of Santa Claus “in photographs and at private, corporate and organizational events.” Daily Star.
Given that this position requires direct and regular contact with youth, detectives explained that they were “working around the clock” to obtain a search warrant.
The search warrant was executed on December 5, and police confirmed that investigators “seized numerous items of evidentiary value” during the search; Paulino was arrested without incident. Prosecutors then requested that he be detained pending trial.
The investigation is ongoing and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Just last week, another teacher was sentenced to 135 years in prison for using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit videos and images of his own students.
David McKeown, 47, was sentenced to prison on Tuesday after investigators discovered he used artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse material featuring students at his school.
McKeown, a sixth-grade teacher at United Brethren Christ Academy in Florida, was arrested in June after Holly Hill police received a tip that a Discord user was sharing child sexual abuse material.
Officers soon traced the activity to McKeown and found him distributing files and chatting with other users while using the school’s Wi-Fi during school hours.
Investigators said the disgraced teacher shared personal information and photos of her students, including sexually explicit images created by artificial intelligence.
Prosecutors also revealed that police discovered photographs of McKeown “engaging in sexual intercourse with the family pet.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier condemned the crimes in a statement, saying: “The abuse and trauma caused by this predator is disgusting and deserves every moment of this punishment.
“We will always seek the longest possible sentence for anyone who harms innocent children or defenseless animals.”
