'Santa' Charged With Inappropriately Touching Child

FARMINGTON, N.C. – A 73-year-old Davie County man who poses as Santa Claus (search) is out of jail on bond after authorities accused him of inappropriately touching a child.

Zay Harold Jones (search) is charged with taking indecent liberties with a minor.

A Forest City girl accused Jones of the inappropriate touching while they were driving together to a Santa workshop in Greensboro (search). Jones was fully dressed in a Santa Claus outfit when the incident allegedly occurred.

Sheriff Allen Whitaker says the girl, who is a middle-school student, then asked Jones to stop at rest area on Interstate 40 near Mocksville. The girl, who worked with Jones as an elf, told rest-area personnel that she had been touched inappropriately and authorities were called.

Jones is scheduled to appeal in court on Dec. 16.