Sometimes Santa is a little more naughty than nice. In fact, his sleigh might just be filled with stolen property or abducted children.
Around this time of the year, there is often an influx in the amount of crimes committed by the jolly old man in a bright red suit. Consider the following crimes recently committed by Santa and his elves. These offenses might make you think twice about closing your chimney flue, guarding your wallet and keeping a close eye on your children.
Who’s Lap is Your Kid sitting on?
Parents all over the nation take their children to local Malls every year to get a picture taken on Santa’s lap. Hopefully the screening process for choosing these Santas is thorough, since there some "Santas" out there with some serious character flaws.
Santa & Rudolph Abduct Child
In Columbia, South Carolina, a man dressed as Saint Nick abducted an 8-year-old girl from a gas station right in front of her parents. The man, dressed as Santa, was fueling his motorcycle at a gas station when he struck up a conversation with the girl’s family and showed off his Rudolph stuffed-animal riding in the sidecar. After a brief exchange, the pseudo-Santa ended up driving away with the small girl in his sidecar. The girl’s family gave chase to the kidnapper and was successful in retrieving their daughter, uninjured. The not-so-jolly kidnapper explained that he "got caught up in playing the role of Santa" and allegedly had no intention of kidnapping the little girl.
Santa Walks Neighborhood Stalking His Prey
Children associate Santa with good times and presents. Luckily, a little girl in Ohio was weary enough to be suspicious of a man dressed as Santa that approached her while she was on her way to school. As the 12-year-old girl walked to her school for children with special needs, a man dressed as Santa grabbed her and attempted to kidnap her in broad daylight. Thankfully, the student was able to break free of Santa’s grasp and run into a local convenience store. Situations like this illustrate the level of awareness and caution that need to be instilled in children in order to keep them out of the hands of predators that often go to great lengths to lure children to them.
Lawmakers in Florida understand the inherent danger that a sexual predator armed with a Santa Claus costume could pose to children, and recently created a statute that specifically forbids such conduct. Florida Statute 947.1405(12)(b) prohibits convicted sex offenders from dressing like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or any other costume that might appeal to children.
Does Santa Carry a Gun?
Last year in Nashville, a thief dressed as Santa Claus held a bank teller at gunpoint and robbed a SunTrust Bank branch. As if a man dressed as Santa brandishing a sidearm and committing a bank robbery was not strange enough, the thief was reported by witnesses as being in a "jolly mood" and told the bank teller that "he had to pay his elves."
Interestingly enough, if the man dressed as Santa was convicted of committing this offense in Florida, he would face stiffer penalties for wearing the costume. That is to say that the State would be able to seek a harsher sentence due to the fact that the perpetrator had concealed his identity, albeit in a Santa costume. Florida Statute 775.0845 states that any criminal offense committed while the offender wears a hood, mask, or any other device that conceals their identity, shall be reclassified to the next higher degree. This means that a second-degree felony committed by Santa would then become a first-degree felony.
When Santa Drinks more than just Milk with his Cookies
Most people would agree that Santa Claus has a pretty tough job, with his burdensome task of delivering presents to children around the world. One Santa decided to unwind with a few drinks. A Wisconsin man dressed as St. Nick was cited for drunk driving last year after he drunkenly stumbled out of his vehicle in front of a group of children and proceeded to ask if "anyone knew where his reindeer were." Despite his advanced state of inebriation, he apparently was able to maintain his character part. His conduct an open container of alcohol lead to a DUI investigation.
Although the ramifications of a reindeer powered DUI are unclear, an intoxicated motorist in a Santa garb could clearly face a license suspension, an ignition interlock device and even possible time spent in the Pinellas County Jail. Mrs. Claus would probably not take kindly to that!
Arrested for an offense in Pinellas County? We Can Help!
We are experienced criminal defense lawyers who regularly handle theft, drug related offenses, DUI, and other related offenses arising out of the St. Pete /Clearwater area. Visit our website to learn about possible solutions.
Contact our office for a free consultation with an attorney at:
(727) 578-0303
Visit our general criminal defense website at: www.defensehelp.com
Visit our Drunk Driving website at: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Links:
The case of crimes against Santa
Getting Your Pinellas Charge Dismissed through a Diversion Program
Santa Arrested for Child Porn
Children Cry as Fake Santa arrested
St. Petersburg / Clearwater Arrests of Out of Town Tourists
Drunk Santa Arrested after Kicking Cop
Getting Probation in Pinellas County
Shopping Mall Santa Arrested for Internet Stalking
Avoiding Post Arrest Publicity After a Pinellas Arrest
Wal-Mart Santa Arrested for Exposing Himself to Boy
Comments