BURLEY — A Burley man convicted in July of sexual abuse of a child is slated for a December hearing on a probation violation charge.

John Thomas Breeding Sr., 63, was charged after he was suspended from a court-ordered sex-offender treatment program for failing to attend sessions on a consistent basis, according to Cassia County 5th District Court records. A hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 12, in Cassia County district court.

Breeding pleaded guilty in July to felony sex abuse of a child under 16 years old and was sentenced to a suspended three- to 12-year sentence, 10 years supervised probation with sex-offender treatment and was levied a $5,000 civil penalty to be held in a fund for his 9-year-old victim.

Breeding is known in Mini-Cassia as Biker Santa because dressed as Santa Claus, he often rode a motorcycle and handed out candy canes to children in parking lots.

The sexual charge was not the result of any activity conducted while he was dressed as Santa.

According to court records, the sex offender treatment center sent a letter to Breeding’s probation officer informing authorities of the suspension and recommending that his probation be revoked and that the judge impose the retained jurisdiction program. In that program offenders are sent to the correctional institution at Cottonwood for testing and rehabilitation, before returning to court so the judge can review their progress before sentencing.

The letter said Breeding was suspended from the program for poor performance and failing to consistently attend sessions. It also said Breeding told counselors that he intended to ask his probation officer if he could play Biker Santa again this year.

Laurie Welch may be reached at lwelch@magicvalley.com or 208-677-8767.