'God' meets judge in Hillsborough court

TAMPA -- God Lucky Howard (below) landed in jail last week after Tampa police said he sold drugs near a church, among other places.

Today, he was supposed to plead his case for reduced bail before an earthly judge.

God was present. His attorney wasn't, so the hearing got delayed until next week.

But first, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Walter Heinrich considered the name of the man standing before him.

"Is this a nickname?" the judge asked. "God Lucky? Is this a real name?"

It was hard to hear God's answer.

"Interesting," the judge said. "I've never seen that before."

Heinrich looked at God's case file.

"Let's see why we're here, to see if you're getting into heaven," the judge said. "Just kidding, of course."

-- Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer

[Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]