Santa Claus Impersonator Who Worked at North Pole-Themed Park Accused of Child Solicitation

A former Santa Claus impersonator who worked at a North Pole-themed holiday park has been arrested and accused of trying to arrange inappropriate encounters with minors.

The Ticonderoga Police Department in New York announced in a press release shared Wednesday, September 16, that 75-year-old Clarence V. Russell was arrested on September 5 after an investigation found he was allegedly soliciting minors online.

Police determined Russell had been communicating online with minors, and he is believed to have been trying to organize inappropriate physical encounters.

Russell is pictured in the release as a bald man with a large, white beard — and, according to CBS 6, he previously worked as a Santa Claus impersonator.

The report did not state if Russell was allegedly targeting young boys or girls. He was arrested and charged with attempted rape in the second degree of a victim less than 15 years old and attempted endangering the welfare of a child.

NBC 5 reported that a family member informed them that Russell used to be an employee at Santa’s Workshop, a North Pole-themed Christmas attraction for children that first opened in July 1949.

An employee at Santa’s Workshop informed the outlet in a statement that Russell is not currently employed with the organization.

“Clarence Russell has not been employed by Santa’s Workshop North Pole, NY, since 2025. He is no longer affiliated with our organization in any capacity,” the statement read.

It is not clear if Russell has issued a plea or retained an attorney to comment on his behalf.