RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. - An admitted Satanist who was arrested for abusing a small child was in Rutherford County Criminal Court on Thursday.
John Lotts, Jr. has already admitted, during an exclusive interview with NewChannel 5, to harming the child. On Thursday more details about the abuse were released.
In court, detectives heard details of the injuries the child received: burns to the hands, odd bruising, broken ribs and a lacerated liver. That was enough for the judge. The case was bound over to the grand jury.
Prosecutors told NewsChannel 5 that part of the prosecution of Lotts will focus on whether he performed satanic rituals on the child, something he denies .
"What I did had nothing to do with Satanism . What happened, it was me not having control of my temper," said Lotts.
Lotts, a convicted sex offender, was charged with aggravated child abuse. The little boy's mother, Elizabeth Hoagland, also faces charges for failure to protect her child.
Officials said the child has been recovering from the gruesome injuries, but he's well enough that DCS has placed him in the custody of a relative.
