A retired Hamilton Township school teacher who now portrays Santa Claus at private and public events was been arrested and charged with multiple child exploitation-related offenses, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office announced today.
Mark Paulino, 64, was taken into custody Friday afternoon at his Hamilton Township home following an investigation by the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAU).
Detectives executed a search warrant at the residence and seized multiple items of evidentiary value, authorities said.
The arrest was made with the assistance of local law enforcement, the prosecutor’s Economic Crime, Cyber Crimes and Domestic Violence units, and the Hamilton Police SWAT team.
Paulino has been charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material, second-degree possession with intent to distribute child sexual abuse material, third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Prosecutors have filed a motion to detain him pending trial.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the investigation began Thursday evening, when the State Police ICAC Unit reported that a Hamilton resident had uploaded multiple files of suspected child sexual abuse material to the internet.
The Mercer County ICAC Unit identified Paulino as a suspect and expedited the request for a search warrant due to his public-facing role with children.
On his personal website, santamark.info, Paulino describes his transition from education to portraying Santa Claus.
"Welcome Boys and Girls. I’m Santa Mark, and I’ve come straight from the North Pole to bring a little extra Christmas Magic to your event," Paulino says on the site. "Recently I retired from Hamilton Township Public Schools as an elementary school teacher. Now I’m Santa! I’m available for photographs and private, corporate & organizational events."
He states that he retired in 2021.
The site includes photos of Paulino in full Santa attire, along with a personal bio outlining his teaching background, family life, hobbies and past media appearances.
“I began working with children in 1984,” Paulino wrote, “as a substitute teacher, then lifeguard/swimming instructor, and, lastly, as a contracted special education teacher in middle, high school and elementary school.
He describes himself as a longtime Hamilton Square resident and graduate of Steinert High School, Trenton State College and The College of New Jersey.
Second-degree charges in New Jersey carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s ICAC Unit at (609) 989-6568. Anonymous tips may be submitted at mercercountyprosecutor.com.
Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey also urged residents to report suspected online child exploitation or abuse through the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.