A 78-year-old former Santa Claus impersonator is going through 13 counts of kid abuse and is believed to be related to a baby trafficking ring in North Carolina, in line with police.
Bevier Hasbrouck Sleight, who for years dressed up as Saint Nick on the Santa’s Land Enjoyable Park and Zoo in Cherokee, North Carolina, is charged with aggravated sexual abuse, offensive touching and contributing to the delinquency, indiscipline and neglect or abuse of minors amongst different costs, WLOS reported.
The incidents occurred at Sleight’s house, situated behind Santa’s Land, between March 2023 and March 2024 and concerned youngsters as younger as 5 years outdated, in line with courtroom paperwork.
Police mentioned Sleight additionally had 27 weapons inside his RV.
Native residents, who knew the white-bearded Sleight from his years within the Santa costume, had been shocked by his arrest.
“I’m simply amazed and shocked. I might have by no means thought that,” Kim Lambert informed WROL. “I’ve lots of grandchildren. So, it’s very surprising.”
Lambert had met with Sleight a number of occasions previously. Santa Land sits on her household’s property.
“He’s simply actually at all times been a brilliant good individual,” she informed the native information station. “So, I’m very shocked to listen to that.”
Sleight not works at Santa Land, the enterprise confirmed.
The Cherokee Indian Police Division mentioned that Sleight’s arrest is related to the case of native Caroline Roland, 39, who allegedly led a baby trafficking ring.
Sleight was considered one of Roland’s prospects, the division mentioned.
Roland was arrested on June 5 and was hit with 11 costs together with youngster abuse, maiming, assault with a lethal weapon with intent to kill, and inflicting severe harm.
Roland severely injured a 5-year-old woman by slamming the kid’s arms on a desk, inflicting “a number of damaged bones to every hand on a number of completely different digits,” in line with courtroom paperwork obtained by the information station.
She then allegedly picked up the woman and threw her to the bottom and repeatedly smashed her face into the ground till she stopped respiratory.
The kid was resuscitated by CPR and required surgical procedure. Extra accidents throughout her physique had been found on the hospital.
Neighbors residing subsequent to Roland informed the outlet they suspected suspicious exercise within the house after noticing strangers steadily coming by the sometimes “quiet neighborhood.”
Roland’s subsequent courtroom date has been scheduled for Oct. 23.
In case you have been sexually assaulted and stay in New York, you’ll be able to name 1-800-942-6906 at no cost and confidential disaster counseling. In case you stay exterior the state, you’ll be able to dial the 24/7 Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.