LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has found a Lincoln man was guilty of trespassing when he handed out religious leaflets too close to the front of Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Judge James Foster found Larry Ball guilty of two misdemeanor charges and fined him $50 for each offense. He also ordered Bell to pay court costs.

The 78-year-old man was cited after incident in March when he handed out religious pamphlets on a plaza about 30 feet from the Lincoln arena’s doors.

The matter went to trial in June, and the judge had taken his decision under advisement.

Ball has filed a civil lawsuit, alleging his free speech rights under the First Amendment have been violated.

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