Who would have thought that Santa Claus was one of the bad guys? The truth came to light last week as seventh grade students in the Tamaqua Area Middle School and St. Jerome's Regional School held mock trials to herald the conclusion of their DARE-REAL classes. The Honorable Judge Stephen Bayer, District Magistrate, presided over the sessions as student prosecuters and defense attorneys made their individual cases. Students also served as the defendents, victims and witnesses as five crime scenarios were presented for Judge Bayer's consideration.

With only one day to prepare, with sketchy case descriptions, the students let their imaginations soar. The case load included the City of London suing Ebenezer Scrooge for failure to comply with an ordinance requiring all sidewalks to be free of ice and snow; American Airlines suing Rudolph for damages and failure to file a flight plan after the red nosed reindeer's antlers scraped the bottom of one of its jets; Jack Frost arrested for trespassing and stealing toys from Santa's shop; the Grinch charged with breaking and entering and theft from Lou and Cindy Who's home; and Santa Claus, charged with violating a noise ordinance after a complaint from his neighbor, the Snow Miser.Defense attorneys submitted "proof" of child abuse, inebriated witnesses, lack of knowledge of the law and unusual circumstances as reasons why their clients should be judged innocent. Prosecutors did their best to hold suspects to the letter of the law. At the Tamaqua Middle School, defense attorney Julian Gerace was brought to (mock) tears as he made his summation, pleading for clemency for the Grinch. Defense attorney Aaron Rega also won his case after proving a defense witness, Frosty the Snowman, wasn't a reliable witness as it's impossible to see anything through "eyes made out of coal." At St. Jerome's, the defense called Santa to the stand, only to have the prosecution prove he was an imposter by calling the real Santa as a witness. The defense dismissed the "real" Santa's claims as delusions caused by an overindulgence of eggnog, evidenced by the fact that Jackie Frost was mistaken for her father, Jack.While the laughs were abundant, the students also learned how criminal cases proceed throught the court system and the fine art of cross examination.While Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education (DARE) classes are usually thought of as a fifth grade curriculum, students residing within the Tamaqua area are fortunate enough to have a type of refresher course in seventh grade. The "Keepin' It REAL" class is taught in both schools by Tamaqua Cpl. Dwayne Hacker and Patrolman Michael Hobbs. The ten week course is based on research examining effective ways for teens to resist drug offers, assess risks and make good decisions - Refuse, Explain, Avoid and Leave (REAL). By highlighting these four communications methods, the program helps teens understand the risks of illegal drug use, teaches them how to make good decisions and stresses the importance of resisting the temptation to use drugs."The mock trials are a fun way for the students to develop their reasoning and decision making skills," offered Cpl. Hacker. 'It's always interesting to see the way their minds work. Hopefully, the lessons they learn here will help them throughout their lives."As for the verdicts, the Grinch was found not guilty as he thought he was invited to the Who home by Cindy Lou Who and all the items had been returned; American Airlines was found to be the party at fault; Scrooge was found guilty and put on probation with special conditions; Santa was found not guilty of violating the noise ordinance as the code enforcement officer had given him a variance; and Jackie Frost's case was dismissed due to lack of evidence.