One Santa Charged, Another Punched

A retired electrician who has played Santa Claus for more than 20 years was charged with assault for allegedly slapping a 7-year-old Cub Scout who had tugged on his beard.

Roy Keiser, 65, apparently got steamed after several scouts at a party Wednesday accused him of being a fake. Scout leader Margot Collins said the 7-year-old ripped the beard off Keiser’s face, taking skin with it.

Other witnesses, however, told police the boy only tugged on the beard.

Keiser turned himself in to police Friday after he found out he had been charged, Sgt. Charles Myers said Saturday. He was released on a summons. Conviction carries punishment of up to one year in jail and fined $1,000.

Keiser was not available to comment, but his wife, Delorse Ackerman, said many in the community have called to offer support.

“People who don’t even know him are offering to pay his fine,” she said. “He is a wonderful Christian man. … He wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

Police Chief Stephen Savage said he hoped the department wouldn’t be criticized “for going too far on this.”

“The information my officers gathered support this charge,” he said.

In La Mesa, Calif., Santa was on the receiving end of a punch thrown by an irate father who lost his temper after Santa’s helpers ran out of film as he and his son waited in line to get a picture taken.

“He got upset and punched Santa in the nose, then he and the child disappeared into the crowd,” said police Lt. Chuck Braddy.

Santa wasn’t hurt, and went back to work.

“At four bucks an hour, you’ve just got to keep working,” Braddy said.