Feds won’t charge man in pig’s head incident

LEWISTON – Federal prosecutors have chosen not to pursue charges against a Lewiston man who rolled a pig’s head into a mosque.

Brent Matthews faces a misdemeanor charge of desecration of a place of worship. State prosecutors also won a court order requiring him to stay away from the mosque.

FBI agents and federal prosecutors looked into federal hate crime charges but ultimately decided to let the matter rest with state prosecutors.

“We’re not going forward with our prosecution,” Assistant U.S. Attorney General Halsey Frank said.

Matthews, 33, has insisted the July 3 incident was intended as a joke. The pig’s head rolled into the mosque as about 40 people bowed in evening worship. Pork and pork products are considered unclean and are offensive to Muslims.