Street preacher has Bible assault charges dropped

James David Decker, 66, was cited with disorderly conduct, two counts of simple assault and resisting arrest March 11 after police said he refused to move from an intersection while delivering a sermon.

?We were prepared to argue constitutional case law that would have proved Reverend Decker had a right to be present at a traditional public forum and was exercising his First Amendment rights to express his religious faith,? Decker?s attorney Chuck Pope told The Daily Post-Athenian.

Prosecutors did not comment on the dropped charges.

Decker, who did not testify at the court hearing, offered religious sentiments from the front row of the courtroom before the judge took the bench, saying people should ?praise Jesus,? and ?repent of your sins.?

The preacher also said he was wrongly arrested and that his incarceration was against the will of God.

?Athens has got the wrong name. It shouldn?t be the Friendly City, it should be the evil city,? he said. ?Athens will be shaken. Everybody better have their seat belts on.?

Decker has been delivering roadside sermons for a decade and returned to his intersection pulpit with a pack of suporters a week after his arrest.