Historically, convicting people on false criminal charges because they’re different or have unusual tastes was a staple of Southern justice.
There indeed was a frenzy of “satanic” prosecutions around that time - led by a bunch of unqualified “satanism” experts (usually fundivangelist types) that were able to really control/influence local prosecutors.
There was one murder case in Texas, I believe, where they ended up arresting half the prominent citizens in town on fantastical satanic cult charges before things were finally controlled.