A North Carolina man who used to play Santa Claus at a theme park has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing minors between March 2023 and March 2024, according to reports.
According to the Cherokee Indian Police Department, 78-year-old Bevier Hasbrouck Sleight III is charged with 13 counts of child abuse, including two counts of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact, contributing to minor delinquency, first-degree child abuse, and three counts of offensive touching.
Police said Sleight worked at Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo on Wolfetown Road, but the occurrences that led to the charges allegedly happened at his home, not at the park, according to WLOS, a local ABC TV news station in Asheville, North Carolina.
According to the station, Sleight lives on Blythe Drive, right behind the park.
According to court records, the instances occurred between March 2023 and March 2024, involving approximately a dozen youngsters aged 5 to 7.
The Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo could not be reached for comment.
The park’s location accentuates the potential for youngsters to meet the iconic Christmas figure.
The park also provides youngsters with the opportunity to interact with wild and exotic creatures from throughout the world, as well as see a magic performance.
According to police, Sleight is a customer of 39-year-old Caroline Roland, who is accused of running a child trafficking ring in her community.
Roland is being detained at the Cherokee Detention Center on 11 accusations, including child abuse.
Sleight, who is now free on bond, is scheduled to appear in tribal court on Wednesday.