Mark Paulino aka Santa Mark

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A retired New Jersey elementary school teacher known in the community as “Santa Mark” has been arrested on charges tied to child sexual abuse material, authorities said.

Mark Paulino, 64, is charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material, second-degree possession with intent to distribute, third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material, and endangering the welfare of a child, Mercer County Prosecutor Jandetta D. Mabrey said. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain him pending trial.

Detectives received information on Thursday evening, Dec. 4, from the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit that an individual in Hamilton Township had uploaded multiple files of suspected child sexual abuse material, officials said. Investigators identified Paulino as the subject.

According to his website, Paulino retired in 2021 from the Hamilton Township School District and now works as a Santa character for photos and events. A former Langhorne, PA resident, Paulino spent nearly 60 years living in Hamilton Square, his website says.

He graduated from Steinert High School, Mercer County Community College (AA), Trenton State College (BA), and The College of NJ (MAT), according to his website. He began working with children in 1984 as a substitute teacher, then lifeguard/swimming instructor, and most recently as a contracted special education teacher for elementary, middle, and high school students, his website says. 

"Now I'm pursuing my lifelong wish to be Santa Claus," his website says.

​Because of his active work with children, detectives worked overnight to obtain a search warrant, officials said. On Friday afternoon, Dec. 5, members of the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, with support from multiple units and Hamilton Police SWAT, executed a search warrant at Paulino’s Hamilton Township home. Detectives seized several items of evidentiary value, and Paulino was taken into custody without incident.

Second-degree charges carry a possible sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and fines up to $150,000. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at (609) 989-6568. Tips can also be submitted at mercercountyprosecutor.com.

As of press time, Paulino’s Facebook page had been deactivated.