THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 3, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
Huffington Post
HuffPost
13 Sep 2024


NextImg:Theme Park Santa Accused Of Child Sex Abuse At His Home Behind Attraction
LOADINGERROR LOADING

A North Carolina man who formerly played Santa Claus at a North Pole-themed amusement park was arrested last week and accused of sexually abusing two young girls at his home behind the attraction.

Bevier Hasbrouck Sleight III, 78, was booked on 13 charges, including child abuse, after authorities accused him of sexually abusing two girls between March 2023 and March 2024, according to a warrant obtained by HuffPost. One of the girls was allegedly abused while she was 5 to 6 years old, and the other was 6 to 7 years old.

Sleight had played Santa Claus at the Santa’s Land Fun Park and Zoo in Cherokee, North Carolina, according to reports from The Sylva Herald. The theme park did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

Santa's Land Fun Park & Zoo in Cherokee, North Carolina, in a view from Google Maps
Santa's Land Fun Park & Zoo in Cherokee, North Carolina, in a view from Google Maps
Google Maps

Authorities alleged the abuse happened on the same street where Sleight lives, which is behind the amusement park, according to the warrant. A police booking photo shows him with a long white beard and moustache.

Sleight’s neighbors told ABC affiliate WLOS-TV in Asheville, North Carolina, that they were caught off guard by the arrest.

“He’s just really always been a super nice person. So I’m very shocked to hear that,” Kim Lambert told the station.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Police said Sleight was a customer of Caroline Roland, a 39-year-old resident of Cherokee who has been accused of running a child-trafficking ring, according to WLOS. She was arrested on June 5 and faces 11 charges, including child abuse that allegedly caused a 5-year-old girl to sustain “multiple broken bones to each hand on multiple different digits.”

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost