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, based on 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 prices, WLOS reported.
The incidents occurred at Sleight’s house, positioned behind Santa’s Land, between March 2023 and March 2024 and concerned youngsters as younger as 5 years outdated, based on courtroom paperwork.
Police stated 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 advised WROL. “I’ve a number of grandchildren. So, it’s very stunning.”
Lambert had met with Sleight a number of instances up to now. Santa Land sits on her household’s property.
“He’s simply actually all the time been a brilliant good individual,” she advised the native information station. “So, I’m very shocked to listen to that.”
Sleight now not works at Santa Land, the enterprise confirmed.
The Cherokee Indian Police Division stated that Sleight’s arrest is related to the case of native Caroline Roland, 39, who allegedly led a baby trafficking ring.
Sleight was one among Roland’s prospects, the division stated.
Roland was arrested on June 5 and was hit with 11 prices together with little one 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 totally different digits,” based on 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 way of CPR and required surgical procedure. Extra accidents throughout her physique had been found on the hospital.
Neighbors residing subsequent to Roland advised the outlet they suspected suspicious exercise within the house after noticing strangers ceaselessly coming by way of the sometimes “quiet neighborhood.”
Roland’s subsequent courtroom date has been scheduled for Oct. 23.
You probably have been sexually assaulted and dwell in New York, you possibly can name 1-800-942-6906 without spending a dime and confidential disaster counseling. In case you dwell outdoors the state, you possibly can dial the 24/7 Nationwide Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
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