HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. -- Charges have been dismissed against an Altoona man accused of sending a threatening e-mail to Gov. Ed Rendell.

Vincent Stone sent an e-mail Dec. 6 to Rendell's Harrisburg office. In it, Stone wrote that he prayed every night that somebody would kill the governor.

Blair County Judge Daniel Milliron called the comments crude, insulting and seemingly threatening but said they are protected speech under the First Amendment.

Rendell's spokesman Gary Tuma said the governor had no comment.

Stone's attorney, Thomas Dickey, said his client never meant to harm Rendell and called the judge's decision a "victory for free speech."