A renowned Detroit priest who hosts an exorcism podcast was busted on battery charges Monday for allegedly snatching a teenage girl’s hair and bizarrely pretending to floss with it during a November event at an Illinois church.
Father Carlos Martins, 50, approached the 13-year-old and made comments about her hair before grabbing it and making a flossing motion in his mouth while they stood in line to view a religious relic at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Joliet, according to police and local outlets.
Martins, who co-hosts The Exorcist Files podcast, then sat behind the young girl and made a chilling growling noise, police said, according to Fox 32.
The bizarre incident happened on Nov. 21, 2024 while Martins was visiting with students as part of a national touring exhibit of St. Jude the Apostle.
He was arrested Monday and charged with misdemeanor battery, according to court documents filed in Will County.
Marcelle Burke, who is representing Martins, called the accusations “egregious and unfounded.”
“The evidence will show that Fr. Carlos did not batter anyone,” Burke said in a statement to Stella Maris Media.
“He did not put anyone’s hair in his mouth, let alone ‘floss’ with a student’s hair or ‘growl’ among other completely false and repulsive accusations — this remains a takedown of a good priest and an attempted shakedown of the Church. We are confident in this legal process and look forward to our client being fully exonerated.”
Burke argued Martins’ interaction with the girl was all a “joke” to build a “rapport” with the student and said the priest had quipped that he was bald as a conversation starter, OSV News reported.
Companions of the Cross said Martins withdrew from the ministry after the allegations were made — an action Burke said should not be misinterpreted as an admission of guilt.
“The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention,” the missionary church said in a statement this week.
“We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation.”
Martins, whose status with the Archdiocese of Detroit is listed as “ministry revoked,” pleaded not guilty.
He is due back in Will County Circuit Court on Feb. 24.
