Topline: Authorities say the longtime teacher and holiday performer recorded a child and shared illegal images online.
Published: December 9, 2025 4:48 pm ET
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Mark Paulino (via Mercer County Prosecutors)
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Authorities in New Jersey say a longtime educator who built a second career portraying Santa Claus at holiday events is now facing serious criminal charges tied to child sexual abuse material.
According to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, 64-year-old Mark Paulino of Hamilton Township was arrested Friday after investigators linked him to images and videos allegedly uploaded from a home in the township.
NBC Philadelphia reported that the investigation began on Dec. 4, 2025, when detectives were alerted to a user uploading child pornography from a Hamilton address, and officials later determined that individual to be Paulino.
WPVI noted that neighbors watched police and a SWAT team descend on the house before Paulino was taken into custody.
“It wasn’t until we saw Mark taken away that we realized something was going on with him,” neighbor Kim Clayton told the station. “He was such a nice guy. He played Santa. We knew he was a teacher. It was kind of disappointing.”
According to NJ.com, court documents accuse Paulino of filming a child in a bedroom and then saving and emailing the recording. WPVI similarly reported that he is accused of filming a child and sending the video “to himself or someone else.”
Paulino, who advertises himself as “Santa Mark,” has long promoted holiday appearances offering what his website calls “a little extra Christmas magic,” WPVI reported. NBC Philadelphia added that, according to police, he identified himself online as a recently retired elementary school teacher who performs as Santa for “photographs and private, corporate and organizational events.” Investigators told the station they “worked around the clock” to obtain a warrant because his Santa work placed him in proximity to children.
The prosecutor’s office said multiple items of evidence were seized during Friday’s search, according to NJ.com.
The outlet also reported that Paulino faces second- and third-degree child sexual abuse material charges, along with a fourth-degree count of child abuse, abandonment, cruelty and neglect.
He previously worked as an elementary school teacher in the Hamilton Township School District and retired in 2021, NJ.com noted, with a career that began in 1984 and included roles as a substitute teacher, lifeguard, swim instructor and special education teacher.
Paulino remains in custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing Tuesday, according to both WPVI and NJ.com. As of Monday, attempts to contact him through his website were unsuccessful, WPVI reported, and attorney information was not yet available, NJ.com added.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit at 609-989-6568, or submit tips anonymously through the prosecutor’s website.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: December 9, 2025 4:48 pm ET
Mark Paulino (via Mercer County Prosecutors)
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Authorities in New Jersey say a longtime educator who built a second career portraying Santa Claus at holiday events is now facing serious criminal charges tied to child sexual abuse material.
According to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, 64-year-old Mark Paulino of Hamilton Township was arrested Friday after investigators linked him to images and videos allegedly uploaded from a home in the township.
NBC Philadelphia reported that the investigation began on Dec. 4, 2025, when detectives were alerted to a user uploading child pornography from a Hamilton address, and officials later determined that individual to be Paulino.
WPVI noted that neighbors watched police and a SWAT team descend on the house before Paulino was taken into custody.
“It wasn’t until we saw Mark taken away that we realized something was going on with him,” neighbor Kim Clayton told the station. “He was such a nice guy. He played Santa. We knew he was a teacher. It was kind of disappointing.”
According to NJ.com, court documents accuse Paulino of filming a child in a bedroom and then saving and emailing the recording. WPVI similarly reported that he is accused of filming a child and sending the video “to himself or someone else.”
Paulino, who advertises himself as “Santa Mark,” has long promoted holiday appearances offering what his website calls “a little extra Christmas magic,” WPVI reported. NBC Philadelphia added that, according to police, he identified himself online as a recently retired elementary school teacher who performs as Santa for “photographs and private, corporate and organizational events.” Investigators told the station they “worked around the clock” to obtain a warrant because his Santa work placed him in proximity to children.
The prosecutor’s office said multiple items of evidence were seized during Friday’s search, according to NJ.com.
The outlet also reported that Paulino faces second- and third-degree child sexual abuse material charges, along with a fourth-degree count of child abuse, abandonment, cruelty and neglect.
He previously worked as an elementary school teacher in the Hamilton Township School District and retired in 2021, NJ.com noted, with a career that began in 1984 and included roles as a substitute teacher, lifeguard, swim instructor and special education teacher.
Paulino remains in custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing Tuesday, according to both WPVI and NJ.com. As of Monday, attempts to contact him through his website were unsuccessful, WPVI reported, and attorney information was not yet available, NJ.com added.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit at 609-989-6568, or submit tips anonymously through the prosecutor’s website.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Santa Impersonator Charged After Prosecutors Say He Filmed Child in Bedroom
Authorities say the longtime teacher and holiday performer recorded a child and shared illegal images online.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 9, 2025 4:48 pm ET
Mark Paulino (via Mercer County Prosecutors)
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Authorities in New Jersey say a longtime educator who built a second career portraying Santa Claus at holiday events is now facing serious criminal charges tied to child sexual abuse material.
According to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, 64-year-old Mark Paulino of Hamilton Township was arrested Friday after investigators linked him to images and videos allegedly uploaded from a home in the township.
NBC Philadelphia reported that the investigation began on Dec. 4, 2025, when detectives were alerted to a user uploading child pornography from a Hamilton address, and officials later determined that individual to be Paulino.
WPVI noted that neighbors watched police and a SWAT team descend on the house before Paulino was taken into custody.
“It wasn’t until we saw Mark taken away that we realized something was going on with him,” neighbor Kim Clayton told the station. “He was such a nice guy. He played Santa. We knew he was a teacher. It was kind of disappointing.”
According to NJ.com, court documents accuse Paulino of filming a child in a bedroom and then saving and emailing the recording. WPVI similarly reported that he is accused of filming a child and sending the video “to himself or someone else.”
Paulino, who advertises himself as “Santa Mark,” has long promoted holiday appearances offering what his website calls “a little extra Christmas magic,” WPVI reported. NBC Philadelphia added that, according to police, he identified himself online as a recently retired elementary school teacher who performs as Santa for “photographs and private, corporate and organizational events.” Investigators told the station they “worked around the clock” to obtain a warrant because his Santa work placed him in proximity to children.
The prosecutor’s office said multiple items of evidence were seized during Friday’s search, according to NJ.com.
The outlet also reported that Paulino faces second- and third-degree child sexual abuse material charges, along with a fourth-degree count of child abuse, abandonment, cruelty and neglect.
He previously worked as an elementary school teacher in the Hamilton Township School District and retired in 2021, NJ.com noted, with a career that began in 1984 and included roles as a substitute teacher, lifeguard, swim instructor and special education teacher.
Paulino remains in custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing Tuesday, according to both WPVI and NJ.com. As of Monday, attempts to contact him through his website were unsuccessful, WPVI reported, and attorney information was not yet available, NJ.com added.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit at 609-989-6568, or submit tips anonymously through the prosecutor’s website.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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