75-Year-Old Santa Lookalike Faces Felony Charges for Alleged Online Sexual Encounters with Minors

75-year-old Santa Claus suspect arrested for alleged online sexual misconduct with minors. Ticonderoga police investigate.

Editorial Desk

September 18, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Ticonderoga, United States — A 75-year-old man who played Santa Claus at a Christmas-themed attraction has been charged with serious crimes after allegedly attempting to arrange sexual encounters with children through online communication.

Clarence Russell of Paul Smiths, New York, was taken into custody on September 5 by Ticonderoga Police Department officers. Authorities say he engaged in digital conversations where he believed he was setting up meetings with underage individuals. He now faces felony charges including attempted second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

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Russell, who worked as a seasonal Santa at Santa’s Workshop in Wilmington, New York, for nearly a decade, was released without bail. His court appearance is scheduled for September 23. Relatives revealed that he had a prior conviction for sexual misconduct in 1993, which they said was well-known within the family. A social media user documented the arrest, sharing videos of the incident and describing how Russell allegedly engaged in explicit online interactions.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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