Montgomery County

Philly Jesus Fights Charges, Pleads Not Guilty

Philly Jesus is fighting charges after entering a not guilty plea in court Thursday.

Police charged 28-year-old Michael Grant -- better known as Philly Jesus -- with disorderly conduct and failure to disperse in mid-November.

Grant, who declined to comment on the case Thursday, told NBC10 last month the officer accused him of soliciting in LOVE Park -- his usual hangout where tourists and locals often take photos with him as he quotes sermon.

But the local celebrity -- the City of Brotherly Love’s pious answer to Times Square’s Naked Cowboy -- insists he never charges people, tweeting about it hours after his arrest on Nov. 14.

“I tell people I do not charge," he explained last month. "But tips and donations are always welcome."

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Known for wearing a long white robe and carrying a staff, Grant sported his signature outfit while in court Thursday.

A recovering drug addict, Grant embraced Jesus as part of his efforts to maintain his sobriety.

"I considered myself completely healed and cured when I surrendered my heart to Jesus Christ,"  Grant, who said he has been sober since June 4, 2013, told NBC10 in September.

Shortly after his arrest, the BBC announced it would tell his story, which includes occasionally baptizing people in the fountain of LOVE Park.

Grant is due back in court Dec. 15.

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