Polk County Man Arrested for Attempting to Meet Minors

A man from Polk County, Florida, who is known for playing Santa Claus, has been arrested. He’s accused of trying to meet underage girls for sex.

Thomas Allen Hicks, 68, is one of 19 individuals taken into custody during an operation targeting adults seeking to engage with minors, as reported by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Details from the arrest indicate that Hicks allegedly accessed a prostitution website, expressing interest in having sexual relations with a 13-year-old girl. This girl, however, was presented to him through an undercover agent posing as her father.

In video footage, a father can be seen holding a young child while police approach.

It turns out that Hicks was communicating with an undercover officer. He was allegedly willing to pay $200 to engage with the supposed girl.

As their conversation progressed, Hicks disclosed his current location for the meeting, leading to his arrest.

During a news conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd mentioned, “I spoke to the real Santa Claus today, and he was angry. He expressed that people like Hicks give him a bad reputation, claiming that he spends his time delivering gifts to good children.” Judd emphasized the seriousness of such crimes, stating, “You can’t cure these individuals. They have deep-seated issues.”

Hicks was employed at Tri-County Human Services, a behavioral health clinic, but has since been fired following his arrest.

The organization commented that they support police initiatives aimed at protecting the community. They assured that Hicks did not have access to sensitive client information during his time with them.

In this joint operation, authorities reported a total of around 85 felonies and eight misdemeanors related to similar cases. It’s troubling to think about the number of individuals who attempt to engage with minors. “We remain vigilant in our efforts to investigate and apprehend those who target children,” said Judd.