GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- A pastor accused of groping five women, who were asking for help from his church's food bank, made his first court appearance on Monday.
Michael Keough maintains his innocence and says the women were out to get him.
"Pastor Keough, do you want to say anything about your charges?" NewsChannel 36 asked as he left the courtroom.
"No ma'am," said Keough.
Keough is used to facing a crowd at the King James Independent Baptist Church in Bessemer City where he preaches. The 72-year-old is not used to facing a judge like he had to Monday at the Gaston County courthouse.
Keough is charged with five counts of sexual battery. He's accused of groping five different women in the last three years -- women who came to him asking for help from the church's food bank.
This weekend, Keough was surrounded by church members who stand by him. Some members of his congregation posted the money to get him out of jail.
Keough told NewsChannel 36 off camera that some of his accusers made up their stories after being turned away from the food bank for making unreasonable requests for groceries.
In court on Monday, the pastor asked for a court-appointed attorney and the judge sent his case to the public defender's office.
Keough will be back in court in December. He says he'll keep preaching as long as he can.
