A former Santa Claus impersonator, 78-year-old Bevier Hasbrouck Sleight, is facing serious charges related to child abuse and is suspected to be linked to a child trafficking ring in North Carolina, as per local law enforcement. Sleight, who was known for his role as Santa Claus at Santa’s Land Fun Park and Zoo in Cherokee, North Carolina, is now facing charges including aggravated sexual abuse, offensive touching, and contributing to the delinquency and neglect of minors.
The alleged incidents took place at Sleight’s residence, which is situated behind Santa’s Land, between March 2023 and March 2024. The victims involved in these incidents were as young as five years old, as revealed by court documents. Sleight was arrested on August 29, and the police found 27 weapons in his RV.
The local community, familiar with Sleight due to his years of playing Santa Claus, expressed shock at his arrest. Kim Lambert, a local resident who had interacted with Sleight on several occasions, expressed her disbelief. Santa Land is located on her family’s property, and she described Sleight as a “super nice person.”
Sleight is no longer employed at Santa Land, as confirmed by the business. The Cherokee Indian Police Department has linked Sleight’s arrest to the case of 39-year-old Caroline Roland, a local woman accused of leading a child trafficking ring. Sleight was identified as one of Roland’s customers.
Roland was arrested on June 5 and faces 11 charges, including child abuse, maiming, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and inflicting serious injury. Court documents reveal that Roland caused severe injuries to a five-year-old girl by slamming her hands on a table, resulting in multiple broken bones. She is also accused of throwing the child to the ground and repeatedly smashing her face into the floor until she stopped breathing. The child was revived through CPR and required surgery. Additional injuries were discovered at the hospital.
Residents living near Roland reported suspicious activity at her home, noting an unusual number of strangers frequently visiting the typically quiet neighborhood. Roland’s next court date is scheduled for October 23.