This Santa is on the very, very naughty checklist.
A married Santa Claus impersonator who sat “1000’s and 1000’s of kids” on his lap over time has been nabbed in an undercover little one intercourse sting
Thomas Allen Hicks, 68, a white-bearded skilled Santa and preacher of 40 years, allegedly responded to an internet advert posted by an undercover detective pretending to be a dad or mum providing intercourse with their 13-year-old daughter, in response to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
The accused predator was busted after agreeing to pay $200 and explicitly describing the intercourse acts he needed to carry out on the kid — and grossly promising to be “mild,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
“I talked to the actual Santa Claus right now, and he’s pissed,” Judd joked to reporters on Wednesday.
“He stated, ‘It’s individuals like that who give me a nasty status, and I spend all this time going all around the globe giving presents to all the nice girls and boys. Sheriff, I’m glad you bought him locked up.’”
Hicks has been married for greater than 50 years and was “well-regarded” within the skilled Santa Claus group, in response to Judd.
“1000’s and 1000’s and 1000’s of kids have sat on this man’s lap considering he was Santa Claus when actually what he was is a toddler intercourse predator,” the sheriff stated of the suspect who performed Santa on the Lakeland Christmas parade for at the very least a decade.
Hicks, of Lakeland, was one among 19 arrested within the sting.
He was charged with human trafficking, touring to fulfill a minor, use of a pc to seduce a toddler, and use of a two-way communication gadget to commit a felony.
He has been a preacher for greater than 40 years and labored for Tri-County Behavioral Well being, a psychological well being and drug abuse clinic in Polk County, Judd stated.
He allegedly admitted that he was interested in the woman within the advert, and determined to attempt assembly along with her regardless of being suspicious that it was a set-up, in response to an affidavit obtained by Fox 13.
The sicko additionally revealed to detectives that he’s been married for greater than 50 years however often picks up prostitutes he finds on-line.
Hicks was fired from his job at Tri-County Behavioral Well being following his arrest.
“Mr. Hicks didn’t have entry to purchasers or their digital well being data and was not capable of collect any information associated to little one info at any time throughout his employment,” the corporate stated in an announcement.
Eighteen different alleged perverts have been arrested within the week-long sting, dubbed “Operation Youngster Protector VIII,” which concerned a number of companies throughout a number of Florida counties.
Sixteen of the suspects allegedly communicated with undercover detectives whom they believed have been kids or guardians of kids and traveled to fulfill a minor for intercourse. Three despatched nude pictures to undercover officers.
Seven of the suspects are married, and three are navy veterans, police stated.
In whole, the suspects are collectively charged with 85 felonies and eight misdemeanors.
