A man who told police that he belongs to the church of Satan has been arrested on aggravated child abuse charges. 40-Year old John David Lotts, Jr. allegedly beat and kicked a young boy whom he was living with. The injuries to the 5-year old boy were so severe, that the child had to be admitted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. There, doctors learned that the small victim had a lacerated liver, kidney contusions and injuries all over his body. The child admitted to police that Lotts had indeed caused the injuries to his body. Lotts was evidently living with the child’s mother on Westerwald Drive in Murfreesboro.

This is not the first time that Lotts has been in trouble with the law. Lotts was arrested and convicted in 1990 for aggravated rape. The Murfreesboro man is scheduled to appear in court to face one aggravated child abuse charge on February 16^th. The childs mother, Elizabeth A. Hoagland was also arrested. The 40-year old woman was charged with failure to protect. The little boy is now with relatives.