Alleged pie hurler won't face felony charges for toss at Douglas

A man accused of lobbing a cream pie at Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) during a July 4 parade will not face felony assault charges, The Times Argus is reporting.

The paper said that 22-year-old Matthew Manning pled "not guilty" to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges during his arraignment Thursday. The prosecutor in the case said there isn't sufficient evidence to bring a felony assault charge against the Northfield man.

According to reports, Manning tossed a cream pie at Douglas as the governor rode in a parade in Montpelier last month. Manning was dressed as Santa Claus at the time.

Manning said he tossed the projectile because he disagreed with what he called Douglas' pro-corporate positions and his approach to the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Douglas wasn't harmed in the incident.