A Toys for Tots volunteer in New Jersey was recently accused of committing a drug crime. Police arrested the Santa Claus impersonator during an early-morning traffic stop along Route 46. A strong criminal defense will likely be necessary for combatting the drug charges the man faces.
The man’s arrest took place at about 2 a.m. on a Monday. Police said they stopped the man and reportedly found a crack pipe beside his costume, which was hanging up inside his motor vehicle. In addition, police reportedly discovered empty heroin and crack bags as well as hypodermic needles in his possession.
The man’s Facebook page features several photos of him dressed up as Santa Claus. In fact, in one picture, the man can be seen posing with the U.S. Marines. He is 66 years old.
The man facing drug charges has the right to proceed to trial, where the prosecution must prove his charges beyond a reasonable doubt before any conviction can happen. This standard exists in an effort to keep innocent individuals from being convicted of crimes they did not do and thus punished accordingly. However, if the weight of the prosecution’s evidence appears to be strong, seeking to negotiate a plea deal might be in the man’s best interests instead, as a plea agreement might result in a lighter sentence than what he would receive if found guilty at trial. The criminal defense will ultimately push for the most favorable outcome for the accused in the New Jersey criminal court system.
Source: northjersey.com, “Toys for Tots volunteer Santa Claus arrested on drug charges in South Hackensack“, Keldy Ortiz, Nov. 6, 2017