OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska civil liberties group is lauding the dismissal of charges against a Lincoln man, who was arrested March 15 for handing out religious pamphlets outside Lincoln’s Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Misdemeanor charges of trespassing and disobeying police orders against 77-year-old Larry Ball were dropped Friday at the request of Lincoln city prosecutors.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which has been representing Ball in the case, lauded the city’s move to dismiss. The ACLU says Ball was on a public sidewalk and exercising his First Amendment rights in handing out the fliers.

City prosecutor John McQuinn says the charges were dismissed because Ball had no criminal record and had not been back to the arena.