The Fifth Day of Christmas - The Case Against

Richie Buck heads straight into the lion’s den - the prosecutor’s office. There, he hopes to understand exactly what Santa Claus is up against. But what he finds isn’t a quiet room of legal briefs… It’s a true-crime trophy hall, every wall plastered with mugshots of past convictions like hunting mounts. And the prosecutors, Chet and Sally, treat justice like a competitive sport. Or worse, a hobby.

Between high-fives, Top Gun references, and a surprising admission that they nickname Santa “Iceman,” the duo walks Richie through the massive charging document: vehicular manslaughter, breaking and entering, reckless endangerment, unlawful surveillance, cruelty to animals, violating airspace, and even “kissing without consent.” It’s a mountain of accusations, and the prosecutors seem a little too eager to plant a flag at the summit.

Overwhelmed, Richie turns to Detective Samantha Strong for clarity, reading each charge aloud over donuts at The Bacon Shack. But every explanation she gives feels more like a nail in Santa’s coffin, especially when the evidence doesn’t look nearly as shaky as Richie hoped.

With prosecutors circling, the community whispering, and Santa’s mugshot already hanging on their wall as if the verdict were a done deal, Richie faces his most brutal realization yet: the case against Santa is massive… and belief alone might not be enough to save him.

It's like Santa Claus. As a suspect. On Dateline. In the South.

Cast: Richie Buck - Jason Usry Santa Claus - Pat Picone Chet - Brett, from The Prosecutors Podcast Sally - Alice, from The Prosecutors Podcast Detective Samantha Strong - Shiloh Catanese

Head Elf, Jason Usry Co-Executive Elves: Rebekah Sebastian, Dr. Shiloh Catanese, Dr. Scott Musgrove, and Michelle Kaz. Santa Maybe, a Criminal is written and produced by Jason Usry Music and Sound FX sourced through Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe, Audiio, Universal Music for Creators and more. Additional music and atmospheres provided by Captain Fathands. Follow the show on social media: X - @santamaybe Facebook - @SantaMaybePodcast Web - santamaybe.com

Until next time: BE NICE