Man facing child porn charges worked as Santa

A Raleigh man arrested Saturday on child pornography charges worked as a Santa Claus for hire under the name "Santa Lee Jones."

Leander Dewey Jones, 63, of 2931 Brentwood Road, is charged with 12 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. District Judge Jacqueline Brewer increased his bond from $600,000 to $1 million on Monday after hearing details of the case from prosecutors.

A computer sales and repair shop initially found suspected child pornography on Jones' computer and police, Wake County Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger said. Police then searched the computer and found files showing naked girls ages 6 to 10 in provocative positions and found more explicit photos on USB drives and discs in his home, Zellinger said.

The FBI has taken over investigation of the case because of the amount of pornography uncovered, he said.

A family member also has asked that authorities evaluate her young children after police found a small camera hidden in the bathroom of Jones' home.

Investigators also found business cards listing Jones as Santa Claus and showing him in a Santa costume. Zellinger said Jones also worked as a magician and played the role of a pirate for parties and other events.

Jones is a member of the Triangle Santa Buddies organization, according to the group's founder, Al Capehart. The group's website said he joined last year.

"I have no comment at this time. We need to know more," Capehart said Monday.

A woman who answered the door at Jones' home also declined to comment.

Three years ago, John Thomas Peters, another member of Triangle Santa Buddies, was charged with soliciting teen girls online for sex. He pleaded guilty in October 2012 to second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and soliciting sex by computer and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Capehart said Triangle Santa Buddies doesn't perform background checks on its members.

Some area malls told WRAL News on Monday that they do screen people who work as Santa during the holiday season. However, a background check would have found nothing on Jones, as he has no prior criminal record.