Lakeland man known for appearing as Santa arrested in Polk sheriff's sting
April 29, 2026 at 12:02 PM EDT
Thomas Hicks, who first played Santa in the Lakeland Christmas Parade in 2017, was arrested in an undercover operation to identify individuals using the internet for the sexual exploitation of children.
Thomas Allen Hicks, 68, was arrested last week in connection with a Polk County Sheriff’s Office sting operation to identify individuals using the internet for the sexual exploitation of children.
Hicks, a Lakeland resident, has frequently appeared as Santa Claus at Christmas events in the Lakeland area.
According to an affidavit filed with Polk County Clerk, Hicks allegedly knowingly solicited sex with a minor through a known prostitution website. Hicks communicated with an undercover Marion County detective who posed as a father advertising his 13-year-old daughter. The detective confirmed with Hicks multiple times that he was interested in the girl despite her young age.
In a 2022 interview, Hicks said that he began playing Santa in the Lakeland Christmas Parade in 2017. He said he has also appeared at the Kissimmee Festival of Lights Parade and for several years at ZooTampa. In the same interview, Hicks said, “I grew up to become a pastor, just like my dad. I have pastored churches in Pensacola, Florida; Lexington, North Carolina; and now in Lakeland, Florida.”
According to Angel Davis, president of the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Hicks would not have had direct contact with children as Santa in the annual Lakeland Christmas Parade.
Spectrum Bay News 9 named Hicks and his wife “Everyday Heroes” in September 2024 for their work as Santa and Mrs. Claus. They wrote that the couple appeared at various events, including the Lakeland Police Department’s Cops for Kids event and a summer Christmas event at the Lake Mirror Center hosted by Tri-County Human Services, where Hicks was most recently employed as a marketing representative.
Thomas Hicks posed for a photo with Sheriff Grady Judd at a Rotary meeting just weeks before Hicks was arrested in a sheriff's office undercover operation to identify individuals using the internet for the sexual exploitation of children in April. (1156x871, AR: 1.3272101033295063)
At the time, Bay News 9 quoted Hicks as saying that playing Santa was more than a job for him: “It’s just the joy that you bring to children and families. … To see their reaction, their surprise. And then the joy, the smiles on their faces as they interact. The children really express a lot of love back.”
At the press conference on Wednesday, Judd shared that he and a detective involved in the sting operation had unrelated direct contact with Hicks prior to his arrest. Judd shared a picture of himself with Hicks at a recent Rotary meeting. He also said that a detective showed the sheriff a picture of the detective’s children sitting on Hick’s lap during a Santa Claus appearance. The detective and his wife stood next to them in the photo.
Judd reported that Hicks has no criminal history. He also said Hicks showed “zero remorse when he was arrested; the only thing he was concerned about was his reputation as Santa Claus.”
Thomas Hicks (707x872, AR: 0.8107798165137615)
Hicks was arrested on charges of:
When asked if there will be an additional investigation into Hicks’ previous interactions with children, Judd said, “Certainly, that’s one of the reasons for press conferences. … If Tom Hicks was around and your child says that they were inappropriately approached or touched, we want to know about that.
“We’re broadcasting this today because … if by some chance, he were to get out in the future, we want to make sure he is no longer a Santa Claus,” Judd said.
Anna Toms is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
Hicks, a Lakeland resident, has frequently appeared as Santa Claus at Christmas events in the Lakeland area.
According to an affidavit filed with Polk County Clerk, Hicks allegedly knowingly solicited sex with a minor through a known prostitution website. Hicks communicated with an undercover Marion County detective who posed as a father advertising his 13-year-old daughter. The detective confirmed with Hicks multiple times that he was interested in the girl despite her young age.
In a 2022 interview, Hicks said that he began playing Santa in the Lakeland Christmas Parade in 2017. He said he has also appeared at the Kissimmee Festival of Lights Parade and for several years at ZooTampa. In the same interview, Hicks said, “I grew up to become a pastor, just like my dad. I have pastored churches in Pensacola, Florida; Lexington, North Carolina; and now in Lakeland, Florida.”
According to Angel Davis, president of the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Hicks would not have had direct contact with children as Santa in the annual Lakeland Christmas Parade.
Spectrum Bay News 9 named Hicks and his wife “Everyday Heroes” in September 2024 for their work as Santa and Mrs. Claus. They wrote that the couple appeared at various events, including the Lakeland Police Department’s Cops for Kids event and a summer Christmas event at the Lake Mirror Center hosted by Tri-County Human Services, where Hicks was most recently employed as a marketing representative.
Thomas Hicks posed for a photo with Sheriff Grady Judd at a Rotary meeting just weeks before Hicks was arrested in a sheriff's office undercover operation to identify individuals using the internet for the sexual exploitation of children in April. (1156x871, AR: 1.3272101033295063)
At the time, Bay News 9 quoted Hicks as saying that playing Santa was more than a job for him: “It’s just the joy that you bring to children and families. … To see their reaction, their surprise. And then the joy, the smiles on their faces as they interact. The children really express a lot of love back.”
At the press conference on Wednesday, Judd shared that he and a detective involved in the sting operation had unrelated direct contact with Hicks prior to his arrest. Judd shared a picture of himself with Hicks at a recent Rotary meeting. He also said that a detective showed the sheriff a picture of the detective’s children sitting on Hick’s lap during a Santa Claus appearance. The detective and his wife stood next to them in the photo.
Judd reported that Hicks has no criminal history. He also said Hicks showed “zero remorse when he was arrested; the only thing he was concerned about was his reputation as Santa Claus.”
Thomas Hicks (707x872, AR: 0.8107798165137615)
Hicks was arrested on charges of:
- Human trafficking (first-degree felony).
- Traveling to meet a minor (second-degree felony).
- Use of computer to seduce a child (third-degree felony).
- Use of two-way communication device to commit a felony (third-degree felony).
When asked if there will be an additional investigation into Hicks’ previous interactions with children, Judd said, “Certainly, that’s one of the reasons for press conferences. … If Tom Hicks was around and your child says that they were inappropriately approached or touched, we want to know about that.
“We’re broadcasting this today because … if by some chance, he were to get out in the future, we want to make sure he is no longer a Santa Claus,” Judd said.
Anna Toms is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.