SALEM, Mass. (AP) – A local history buff who was arrested after he protested the unveiling of a statue of sitcom witch in this historic city was cleared of the charges.

But Richard Sorell, 65, of Peabody called the ruling “bittersweet.”

Sorell turned down a deal that would have dismissed the charges of disorderly conduct so that he could go to trial. He hoped to prove that police violated his First Amendment rights when they arrested him during his June protest at the statue of “Bewitched” star Elizabeth Montgomery. But Salem District Court Judge Stephen Albany told him free speech wasn’t at issue in the case.

“This isn’t over,” Sorell told The Salem News after his court appearance Thursday.

The statue, donated by the TV Land cable channel, portrays Montgomery straddling a broom. Sorell was indignant that the statue was being erected just a few yards away from where innocent people were condemned to die as witches in Salem in 1692.

To protest, Sorell carried a sign that read: “Elizabeth Who? Is She from Salem?”

Sorell claimed his free speech rights were violated because Salem police forced him across the street, while those who approved of the statue could stand near it.

Sorell was arrested after he tried to cross the street to bring his sign within view of television cameras and nearly knocked over a 71-year-old woman.

Sorell apologized to the woman, and Albany agreed Sorell didn’t intend to nearly knock her over.