Court officials say 21-year-old James B. Lance of Tellico Plains pled guilty Friday in court to aggravated child abuse.

The offense is a Class A felony with a sentence range of 15 to 25 years under Tennessee sentencing law.

Upon taking the guilty plea, Meigs County Criminal Court Judge Jeff Wicks sentenced Lance to 20 years in prison.

Lance has been in custody at the Meigs County Jail since his arrest on January 25, 2023.

The charge stems from an investigation conducted by the Decatur Police Department and 9th DAG ICAC Investigators Cortney Dugger and Chanel Finnel into allegations that Lance (who has since had his parental rights taken from him) abused his one-month-old son who was in the custody of the child’s mother.

The child’s mother had been noticing injuries to the baby’s legs and set up a surveillance camera in her home to monitor what Lance did while he was responsible for the baby’s care when the mother was a work. The video monitor revealed Lance striking and otherwise abusing his young child which horrific abuse resulted in injuries including broken ribs and significant bruising.

The child has fortunately recovered from his injuries and is doing well by all accounts and is in the custody of adoptive parents.

Assistant District Attorney Jed Bassett prosecuted this case for 9th District Attorney General Russell Johnson’s Office.

The defendant was represented by Madisonville attorney Steve Ward.