A 75-year-old New Orleans man who legally changed his name to Santa Claus was arrested over the weekend after attempting to solicit what he believed to be a 15-year-old boy through a dating app, authorities said.
The suspect, whose birth name was George Quigley, initiated contact with an undercover detective posing as a minor during a sting operation conducted by Kenner police. He sent explicit photographs of himself and discussed sexual acts with the person he thought was a child, then agreed to meet in person in Kenner.
When investigators confronted him at the arranged meeting location, Claus surrendered without resistance and was taken into custody. Kenner police chief Keith Conley told the Guardian that investigators discovered images showing Claus dressed in a full Santa Claus costume.
The arrest carries particular concern because of Claus's appearance and persona. Conley noted that Claus actively presents himself as the Christmas figure, creating what he described as "a cautionary tale to parents and guardians" given that he invites children to sit on his lap for photographs.
Claus faces charges of illegal computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile. He had previously lived in Texas before relocating to New Orleans.
The arrest was part of a broader sweep by Kenner police. A total of 11 suspects were apprehended during the operation, with charges including criminal grooming behavior in addition to the solicitation and indecent behavior counts. Police obtained warrants for 10 additional suspects who were not captured during the initial sweep.
As of Tuesday, Claus remained jailed pending bail determination. Police said bail information was not yet available.
Author James Rodriguez: "The name change was real, the predatory behavior was real, and the risk to children in his orbit was very real, which makes this arrest genuinely important."
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