Do you believe Santa is on trial?
Early edition
By CARRIE WEIMAR
Published December 5, 2006
TAMPA — Santa Claus: jolly old elf or armed burglar?
On Tuesday, a prosecutor accused the man known to millions as Father Christmas of breaking into the home of Ebeneezer Scrooge and stealing toys while packing a BB gun.
But don’t worry, kids. None of it was real. It was all part of teaching students about how a courtroom works by letting them participate first-hand.
“Kids learn best by doing,” Judge Chris Altenbernd of Tampa, who sits on the 2nd District Court of Appeal and organized the mock trial. “This is a way for them to learn about the criminal justice system.”
The 6:30 p.m. event, held at the Tampa Law Center, was sponsored by several local legal mentoring groups.
Stetson University College of Law taped the trial to use as a teaching tool at local schools.
Because Santa was too busy to participate, Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober pretended to be him for the event. Other roles were played by attorneys and students from local middle schools. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bucklew presided.
Here are the facts:
Claus, aka Kris Kringle, was accused of breaking into Scrooge’s home early Christmas morning. He was alleged to have swiped a BB gun, a Razor Scooter, a Tickle Me Elmo doll and a baseball signed by Babe Ruth.
“Mr. Kringle needs to check his list twice, members of the jury,” said Assistant State Attorney Thomas Palermo. “His actions have earned him a place in the naughty column — and a Florida prison.”
Claus only admitted to taking the doll. His attorney said Scrooge’s 13-year-old daughter, Susie Q, left it for Santa to give to a needy child.
“This wasn’t theft, ladies and gentlemen,” said his attorney, played by Assistant State Attorney Chinwe Fossett.
“And it surely wasn’t burglary. Santa did not enter the Scrooge home as an evil man to take — he entered out of kindness to give.”
Scrooge and his wife, Paris Holiday Inn Scrooge, were the prosecution’s star witnesses. They said Santa didn’t have permission to come into their house because they don’t celebrate Christmas.
“I never let that old coot in my home,” growled Scrooge, played by attorney Wayne Thomas. “He shoved his own way in and took my things. I hope he gets what’s coming.”
But Susie Q told jurors she wrote to Santa asking him to bring her a video iPod. She never accused Santa of taking her doll.
Defense attorneys noted there was no physical evidence linking Claus to the burglary — just a lot of missing milk and cookies.
In the end, jurors acquitted Santa of grand theft but did find him guilty of simple theft, a lesser charge.
Bucklew said she would allow Santa to remain free on bond since it was such a busy time of year for him.
“Ho, ho, ho! What do you want for Christmas?” Ober asked, as the crowd laughed.
With that, court adjourned.
Carrie Weimar can be reached at (813) 226-3416 or cweimar@sptimes.com.