Wake County prosecutors have dismissed charges against 17 protesters who trespassed at Central Prison in Raleigh on the eve of the nation's 1,000th execution since the death penalty was reinstated in 1977.

The protesters walked toward the front door of the prison about 11:30 p.m., 2 1/2 hours before the execution of Kenneth Lee Boyd on Dec. 2 by lethal injection. Boyd was sentenced to death after brazenly gunning down his estranged wife and father-in-law in Rockingham County in 1988.

About 150 people protested outside of the prison on the night of Boyd's execution. Members of the group who walked toward the prison door were charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. Protesters are restricted to the sidewalk in front of the prison.

Prosecutor Howard Cummings said Wednesday that officials dismissed the charges because prosecuting people with moral objections to executions was a poor use of limited court resources.