BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C., Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A Batesburg-Leesville, S.C., man accused of kidnapping apologized in court for taking an 8-year-old girl for a motorcycle ride without permission.
John Michael Barton, who was dressed as Santa Claus when he spirited the girl away from a gas station, said he was in "Santa mode" when the incident occurred, The (Columbia, S.C.) State reported Tuesday.
Barton told Judge Brian Jeffcoat at a bail hearing Monday he was trying to spread holiday cheer in a non-commercial fashion -- giving side-car rides to children.
"I'm so very sorry about this whole thing," he said.
Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said Barton had been playing Santa at various locations around the city and had previously given several children rides on his motorcycle with their parents permission.
Bail was set at $100,000 and Jeffcoat barred Barton from having any unsupervised contact with children or contact with the girl's family.
