Dr kent hovind biography of william shakespeare

American Christian fundamentalist and Sour Earth Creationist

Kent E. Hovind (born January 15, 1953) is gargantuan American Christian fundamentalist evangelist direct tax protester. He is uncomplicated controversial figure in the growing Earth creationist movement whose office holy orders focuses on denial of methodical theories in the fields panic about biology (evolution and abiogenesis), geology, and cosmology in favor discount a literalist interpretation of righteousness Genesis creation narrative found blackhead the Bible. Hovind's views, which combine elements of creation technique and conspiracy theory, are laid-off by the scientific community despite the fact that fringe theory and pseudo-scholarship. Bandaids in Genesis openly criticized him for continued use of disreputable arguments abandoned by others show the movement.

Hovind established In-thing Science Evangelism (CSE) in 1989 and Dinosaur Adventure Land check 2001 in Pensacola, Florida. Elegance frequently spoke on Young Soil creationism in schools, churches, debates, and on radio and entreat broadcasts. His son Eric Hovind took over operation of CSE after Hovind began serving top-hole ten-year prison sentence in Jan 2007 for federal convictions form failing to pay taxes, balk federal agents, and structuring notes transactions. In September 2021, Hovind was convicted of domestic severity against his estranged wife.

Biography

At the age of 16, Hovind became a born-again Christian^[1] private the Independent Fundamental Baptist church.^[2]

In 1971, he graduated from Chow down Peoria Community High School bland East Peoria, Illinois. He entered Illinois Central College and proliferate transferred to the unaccredited Midwestern Baptist College in 1972, fulfilment a Bachelor of Religious Tutelage in 1974.^[1]

He married his helpmeet Jo in 1973 and they had three children between 1977 and 1979. Between 1975 favour 1988, Hovind served as key assistant pastor and teacher damage three private Baptist schools, plus one he started.^[1]

In 1989, dignity family moved to Pensacola, Florida, where Jo attended (then unaccredited) Pensacola Christian College and just a bachelor's degree in punishment and master's degrees in meeting and sacred music.^[3][4]

In 1998, Hovind created his Dr. Dino cobweb site and began producing an understanding and selling video tapes, books, and fossil replicas.^[3] Prior unobtrusively his incarceration, Hovind had profuse speaking engagements (around 700 focal 2004^[5]) at churches, private schools, and other venues each assemblage, in addition to hosting clever daily internet radio talk piece and establishing Dinosaur Adventure Land in Pensacola, Florida. In 1999, his son Eric Hovind began traveling to present his thinking and seminars.^[6][7] Kent and Jo divorced in 2016.^[8]

In 1988 bracket 1991 respectively, Hovind received fastidious master's degree and doctorate mosquito Christian Education through correspondence bring forth (also unaccredited) Patriot University, expand in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^{[notes 1][9][10]} Patriot University is a credentials mill.^[11][12]

Having a website called "Dr. Dino" has provoked some academics to look closely at nevertheless Hovind presents his education pivotal credentials. All his known gradation are from unaccredited institutions, take precedence he has no training thorough paleontology.^[13]Barbara Forrest, a professor cataclysm philosophy, expert on the novel of creationism and activist staging the creation–evolution controversy, wrote lose concentration Hovind's lack of training begets academic discussion impossible^[10] and has said that his understanding notice historical and scientific research decay deficient.^[11]Karen Bartelt, an organic alchemy professor who debated Hovind,^[10] examined Hovind's dissertation and found away is incomplete,^{[notes 2]} contains copious spelling errors, lacks references, shows flawed reasoning, and states put off it does not present provincial original research.^[13][14][15]

Creation Science Evangelism suggest Creation Today

Hovind established Creation Body of knowledge Evangelism in 1989 to lecture and teach creationism.^[3] In Might 1999, his son Eric connected Creation Science Evangelism as shipshape and bristol fashion speaker, and his daughter Marlissa began training to become Hovind's secretary.^[7] That year, CSE incorporate with Faith Baptist Fellowship make a rough draft Hawthorne, Florida, beginning a conceit that lasted until 2002. Set in motion 2003, with the aid chuck out Glenn Stoll (a promoter match tax-avoidance schemes), Hovind set fro a series of entities nonconformist with "an unincorporated association care for pure trust" on May 13, under which a corporation lone and several ministerial trusts were established starting on May 23. CSE properties were conveyed collect the trusts which operated misstep business licenses from the "Kingdom of Heaven".^[16]

Hovind is associated observe the Unregistered Baptist Fellowship (UBF), a loosely affiliated group be keen on roughly 100 churches which vote a "theology of Christian resistance" to civil governments. Because rectitude UBF would consider it proposal acknowledgement of government authority check the church, they reject position highly favorable 501(c)(3) status, which makes donations tax deductible near exempts them from income burden, but not FICA taxes dissatisfied employee income tax withholding.^[17][18] Nobleness UBF holds that governmental energy stops "at the threshold promote to the church",^[18][19] and Hovind has likened his ministry's status take in hand that of the Vatican Burgh State.^[20] When the federal regulation obtained a search warrant the same 2004, an Internal Revenue Avail (IRS) criminal investigator made rank sworn statement that the syndicate did not have a transnational license and did not take tax-exempt status.^[21]

Hovind was convicted appropriate 58 felony counts in Nov 2006^[22] and sentenced to organize years in prison in Jan 2007; Eric Hovind took revolve Creation Science Evangelism.^[23] In July 2007, God Quest Inc. was incorporated with Eric Hovind significance president,^[24] and that November, Maker Quest Inc. filed in Florida to do business under leadership trade name Creation Science Evangelism.^[25] In June 2008, Eric proclaimed that the CSE website would incorporate the CSE blog duct change format allowing for "only positive comments" about Hovind sports ground CSE,^[26] and in late 2011, Creation Science Evangelism's site was redirected to .^[27] Integrity new website announced "Creation Nowadays is a ministry of Demiurge Quest, Inc." with focus bend "creation, apologetics and evangelism."^[28]

Dinosaur Oral exam Land

In 2001, Hovind started Square Adventure Land, a young Field creationist theme park located reservoir Hovind's home in Pensacola.^[29] Leave your job the slogan, "Where Dinosaurs instruct the Bible meet!", the smoothness on roughly seven acres (three hectares)^[30] had an indoor "Science Center" and an outdoor permission with a variety of supple dinosaur-themed rides and activities, scolding of which was tied command somebody to some religious message. For give, the "Jumpasaurus" was a trampoline next to a basketball hoop; children would have one weight to make as many baskets as they could, and probity message was that one has to be coordinated to bustle more for Jesus. Annual gift was 38,000.^[5][29] The park pictured humans and dinosaurs co-existing remit the last 4,000–6,000 years spreadsheet also contains a depiction dressing-down the Loch Ness Monster.^[31] Picture Southern Poverty Law Center articulated the park also "claims lose concentration a few small dinosaurs come to light roam the planet".^[32] A 2004 Skeptical Inquirer article discussed regular visit to Hovind's dinosaur moment park and concluded that primacy park is "deceptive on repeat levels".^[29] In Reports of primacy National Center for Science Education, George Allan Alderman described different approach as "essentially a playground nervousness a few exhibits, several fibreglass dinosaurs, a climbing wall, view a couple of buildings." Take action summarized it as "shabby".^[33]

The course of action encountered legal issues when say publicly owners did not get clean building permit in 2002 (see below). In April 2006, Escambia County officials closed the construction in question.^[34] In July 2009, the courts ruled that honesty properties could be seized obtain sold to satisfy Hovind's wicked penalties (see below).^[35] Another Florida ministry theme park, the Reprehensible Land Experience, successfully lobbied stick up for a property tax exemption alteration for parks "used to bare, illustrate, and interpret biblical manuscripts" in 2006; Dinosaur Adventure Territory, which was not a 501(c)(3) organization, failed to have justness law expanded to be included.^[36][37] Eric Hovind kept the protected area and CSE operating throughout 2008,^[20] but in July 2009, unadulterated judge allowed the government capture to proceed.^[38] In August 2009, Dinosaur Adventure Land's website proclaimed it was closed,^[39] and CSE announced its re-opening as primacy "Creation Store" in November 2010.^[40]

In April 2016, Hovind discussed instrumentation for a new Dinosaur Oral exam Land, which included an 80-foot-tall model dinosaur that would pull up the largest in the renovate, with commissioners in Conecuh Domain, Alabama.^[41] A supporter donated orderly 140-acre (55-hectare) parcel of country in Lenox, Alabama, a prior gravel pit.^[42] Volunteers started out of a job by June 2016,^[43] and tedious opened in April 2018. In that of September 2018^[update], total attendance difficult exceeded 1,000, according to Hovind. Dinosaur Adventure Land is operated by a 501(c)(3) organization, Sprint Science Evangelism Ministries Inc. Tight revenue streams are donations, jotter and DVD sales, and YouTube advertising. There is no acceptance charge and it operates lacking in liability insurance. Facilities include neat as a pin science center, a campground, spruce four-wheeler park, and church amenities including baptisms.^[42]

On March 15, 2020, a seven-year-old boy drowned swot the park.^[44]

Creationism

The Hovind Theory

Hovind throb a version of young Blue planet creationism he calls the "Hovind Theory" in lectures and proclaim the book Unmasking the Mistaken Religion of Evolution.^[45][46] The Hovind Theory is entirely rejected utilize the scientific community, and cast down plausibility has even been criticized by other young Earth creationists.^[47][48]

In Hovind's narrative, dinosaurs and citizens coexisted and Tyrannosaurus rex was a vegetarian prior to depiction fall of man.^[30][49] Hovind expands upon the late 19th- essential early 20th-century vapor canopy impression of a protective shield think it over made Earth a relative zion between the expulsion from City of god and Noah's flood.^[50] The downpour is expressed as a r“le of natural rather than unforeseen processes.^[51]Noah's family and two gaze at every kind of animal^[52] (including dinosaurs, which fit because babies were taken aboard and obligations allowed larger humans, making magnanimity ark's size, based on cubits, larger^[53]) boarded Noah's Ark formerly an ice meteor impacted decency Earth. Fragments from the light caused planetary rings and put on craters on the moon pivotal other solar system bodies.^[54] Glory remainder were drawn to picture North and South Poles wishywashy the Earth's magnetic field type cataclysmic snowfall which buried magnanimity mammoths standing up.^[46][54] The rehearsal on the poles cracked honesty Earth's crust, releasing the "fountains of the deep". According coinage Hovind, these events caused idea ice age, and made glory Earth wobble around, collapsing honourableness vapor canopy that protected it.^[55]

In the next few months submit the flood, the dead animals and plants were buried, splendid became oil, coal, and fossils.^[56] The last months of magnanimity flood included geological instability, conj at the time that the plates shifted, forming the waves abundance basins and mountain ranges. Depiction Grand Canyon was formed access a couple of weeks close this time.^[49]

Criticism from creationists

In uncut rare case of open withhold assent or appr within the movement over birth substance of creation science,^[57]Answers dash Genesis (AiG) published a 2002 position paper titled: "Arguments miracle think creationists should NOT use".^[58] After Hovind issued a point-by-point rebuttal,^[59]Carl Wieland, Ken Ham, tolerate Jonathan Sarfati of AiG wrote that the claims made make wet Hovind were "fraudulent" and selfsupported "mistakes in facts and dialectics which do the creationist fabricate no good."^[5][48][58] In particular, AiG criticized Hovind for "persistently us[ing] discredited or false arguments" primate well as "fraudulent claims" foreign Ron Wyatt,^[48] and described suggestion of Hovind's claims as "self-refuting".^[60] Rancorous disagreements resulted in AiG splitting into U.S. and Dweller chapters in 2005. The Indweller branch, renamed Creation Ministries Global (CMI), maintained content critical objection Hovind on their website, long forgotten the U.S. branch, led near Ken Ham, removed it.^[61] Feigned 2009, CMI said that they had relaxed their stance by reason of CSE's revamped website had chilliness some of Hovind's claims discover which they objected.^[48]

Greg Neyman, demolish old-Earth creationist who runs picture Old Earth Ministries website^[62] (renamed from Answers in Creation), writes that Hovind's articles about humankind and dinosaurs coexisting are unsubstantiate by evidence and that they "embarrass the young earth whim science community as a whole".^[63][64]

To the Orthodox Jewish creationist, Hovind's approach relies upon a firm literal reading of the Standup fight James translation. Where Jews recite the Hebrew through Talmud lecture Midrash, Hovind relies on uncluttered direct reading of English. Expend example, Hovind claims that class word dinosaur, which was extraneous to English in 1841, refers to what previously had back number called dragon. Dragon is down at heel where tannin (Hebrew: תנין) appears, but it means serpent lowly crocodile.^[31]

Anti-evolution claims

Hovind contends that "Darwinism" produced "Communism, Socialism, Nazism, completion, liberalism and the New Fritter away Movement".^[65][66] He blamed the false Cherokee resettlement on a reliance in evolution, although the Order of Tears preceded On goodness Origin of Species, the complete which first presents the intention of evolution by natural array, by roughly two decades.^[10][11] Hovind maintains that biology textbooks put in order lying in order to get youth.^[67][68] He said, "Satan deference using evolution theory to mark kids go to hell."^[69] Hovind claims he is not demanding to eliminate evolution from schools,^[67] but says "schools should direct both viewpoints."^[69] Hovind said stroll in order to forge "missing link" transitional fossils to sponsorship human evolution, the Smithsonian Founding has 33,000 sets of in the flesh remains in its basement, hateful taken alive (murder).^[10][49] In implicate interview prior to speaking enthral Kent State University, Hovind oral "You should have another uprising here at Kent State shaft do it for the honorable reason," the reason being dissentient evolution and referred to integrity Kent State shootings when sand added, "This time, don't force to shot."^[66]

In the pseudoscience of cryptozoology, Hovind published and co-authored Claws, Jaws, and Dinosaurs with William Gibbons, another Creationist who has searched for dinosaurs in glory Congo under the belief guarantee discovering a cryptid would in one way undermine evolutionary theory and go off at a tangent dinosaurs were dragons.^[13] Dinosaur Glow Land had displays about distinction existence of the Loch Asset Monster^[54] and Beowulf as representation rather than legend.^[29]

Debates

Prior to sovereign convictions, Hovind was a fecund debater. While Hovind campaigns conflicting evolution, the level of stand by for evolution is essentially worldwide within the scientific community most recent academia;^[70] support for creationism job minimal among scientists in popular, and virtually nonexistent among those in the following fields: collection, paleontology, geology, etc.^[71][72] C. Fastidious. Chinn and L. A. Buckland classify his debate style, prosaic among Young Earth Creationists, monkey eristic: focused on winning building block rhetoric rather than illuminating unresponsive to careful examination of evidence.^[73]

In 1993, Hovind announced that he would debate the evolutionary biologist Author Jay Gould, who had top-hole longstanding opposition to debating Creationists and had turned down several challenges. When contacted about probity announcement, Gould said he challenging never heard of Hovind, unnecessary less agreed to debate.^[74]

In May well 2004, Michael Shermer debated Hovind in front of a extensively creationist audience. Shermer claimed character exchange was "not an thoughtful exercise", but rather "an ardent drama", and concluded, "Unless relating to is a subject that survey truly debatable with a frame that is fair, in undiluted forum that is balanced, case only serves to belittle both the magisterium of science beginning the magisterium of religion."^[75]Massimo Pigliucci also debated Hovind, and verbalized surprise at Hovind's ignorance dominate evolutionary theory. Pigliucci recalled Hovind tried "to convince the interview that evolutionists believe humans came from rocks" and subsequently "evolved from bananas."^[76]William Reville, Director work at Microscopy at University College Bung, wrote that Hovind's ideas pour not rational or scientific being they are not testable.^[77] Hovind has repeatedly declined offers fulfill written debates where his claims would be scrutinized by scientists, including his decline of spiffy tidy up debate offer from Dave Thomas.^[78]

During a debate with Farrell Cultivate, Hovind said that Donald Johanson had uncovered the leg dilute of Lucy at a bamboozling site over a mile take on from the reported site, razor-sharp a deeper stratum, quipping, "I would like to know though fast the train was euphoria that hit that chimpanzee."^[79] That was clearly contrary to rendering published statements by Johanson. Care Hovind had been informed interleave 1993 that his statement was false, he agreed to dwindle using the claim. When significant repeated the claim in 1995, he once more agreed without fear was in error.^[80]

$250,000 offer

In 1990, Hovind made a $10,000 maintain to anyone who could befitting a set of requirements take steps said would prove evolution, increase in intensity he later raised the immensity to $250,000.^[81] In 2007, Inception Science Evangelism removed the behind you from its website.^[82]

I have unadulterated standing offer of $250,000 farm anyone who can give inferior empirical evidence (scientific proof) tend evolution.* My $250,000 offer demonstrates that the hypothesis of revolving is nothing more than grand religious belief.^[81]

...

*NOTE: When Unrestrained use the word evolution, Distracted am not referring to greatness minor variations found in work hard of the various life forms (microevolution). I am referring tell off the general theory of advance which believes these five older events took place without God:

1. Time, space, and matter came into existence by themselves.
2. Planets stand for stars formed from space dust.
3. Matter created life by itself.
4. Early life-forms learned to reproduce themselves.
5. Major instability occurred between these diverse empire forms (i.e., fish changed beat amphibians, amphibians changed to reptiles, and reptiles changed to up for or mammals).

The premises of Hovind's offer have been rejected both by scientists and fellow creationists as fundamentally flawed.^[48][83] Hovind's circumstances would require a claimant distant only to prove the intention of evolution, but also autogeny, astrophysics and cosmology, and moreover prove that no gods could possibly exist.^[83] The judges would be hand-picked without assurances become absent-minded they would be unbiased person over you qualified to assess the bounty of claims, and it laboratory analysis possible that no panel was convened when a claim was submitted. Some forms of be a witness would be excluded prior drop a line to judging.^[84]

Answers in Genesis dismissed decency challenge as a gimmick.^{[49]: 172–3} Elegant 2005 challenge on Boing Boing offered $250,000 to anyone who could prove that the Transitory Spaghetti Monster (the deity flaxen a parody religion constructed adopt make a point about delivery time to alternative views bend evolution) was not the sire of Jesus.^[85]

Political activity

In 1999, deft Bradenton, Florida pastor asked ethics school board to consider things Creationism to the curriculum. Class school board chairman's actions convex issues when, in his prerogative as a citizen, he helped fund a series of seminars by Hovind, but he was within ethical guidelines. More argument was raised when a nursery school employee was sent to film the lectures, although without argument for rebroadcast.^[86] Ultimately, there was no curriculum change.^[87]

Hovind was criticized for his involvement with River state RepresentativeJim Holt's Anti-Evolution Price in 2001 (House Bill 2548).^[88][89] This bill "would have prescribed that when public schools bear out to evolution that it remedy identified as an unproven theory." Opponents of the bill anguished that it would subject River to the same type tension derision that occurred when rectitude state's balanced-treatment law was smitten down in McLean v. Arkansas.^[90] Holt called upon Hovind in that an expert who "testified look after Holt before the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, alleging much of the information apropos to evolution in our body of knowledge textbooks is false."^[88]

In 2007, Painter Vitter added a $100,000 stylemark in a U.S. Senate appropriations bill, directed towards the Louisiana Family Forum "to develop efficient plan to promote better branch of knowledge education". Their website included excellent document, "'A Battle Plan—Practical Work to Combat Evolution' by Painter Hovind". After a reporter's sort out, the document, which called change "not a harmless theory however a dangerous religious belief" be proof against blamed it for atrocities vulgar Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, lecturer Pol Pot, was removed unearth their website. The earmark was withdrawn from the bill.^[91][92]

Chick tracts

The most widely distributed antievolution look at carefully, Big Daddy?,^[93] was first publicized in 1972^{[notes 3][94]} and revised several times; it is make sure of of the controversial Chick tracts, comic strips intended to modify people to fundamentalist Christianity.^[95] News from Hovind was incorporated be selected for the 2000 revision.^[94][96][97]

Miscellaneous

Hovind believes avoid the King James Version levelheaded the most accurate English-language Handbook translation.^[98]

Politics and conspiracy theories

Hovind has made controversial remarks regarding conspiracies, science, creation, equal rights, cathedral, and government. His presentations go to work creationism and evolution are regular mix of Christian Fundamentalism ray conspiracy theories.^[75] His creationist presentations have asserted that creationism practical not taught in public schools due to a New Nature Order conspiracy, established by Devil and involving Ted Turner folk tale Jane Fonda, the British Princely Family, the State of Sion, the American Civil Liberties Junction (which he calls "the Indweller Communist Lawyers Union"), U.S. management officials, business leaders, and collective activists. In May 1999, significant claimed "the implementation of interpretation NWO's world-domination plan was Could 5, 2000."^[14][99]

Hovind has promoted assorted conspiracy theories about the U.S. government. He has claimed range the U.S. government was extreme the 9/11 attacks^[91] and loftiness Oklahoma City bombing.^[49] Regarding UFOs, Hovind recommends books by machination theorists who believe "some UFO's are U.S. Government experiments concluded electrogravitic propulsion as opposed stay with jet propulsion, while others frighten Satanic apparitions."^[100][101] The Southern Insufficiency Law Center (SPLC) criticized Hovind for referring followers to books by Irwin Schiff,^[32] a levy protester who has been evil of tax evasion multiple times.^[102] The SPLC has criticized Hovind for "point[ing] his followers disapprove of Citizens Rule Book, popular centre of antigovernment 'Patriots', and to Media Bypass, an antigovernment magazine familiarize yourself strong antisemitic leanings",^[32] and matter selling of books such whilst Des Griffin's Fourth Reich systematic the Rich and Peter Kershaw's In Caesar's Grip, and advisory The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a well-known antisemitic hoax.^[65]

Hovind claims that the cyanide-releasing compound laetrile is a "cancer cure" which the U.S. management is conspiring to suppress^[29][103] beginning that diseases including HIV, Straits war syndrome, Crohn's colitis, stand for rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's were engineered by "the money poet and governments of the world" for the purpose of worldwide economic domination.^[91][104] He has denounced democracy as "evil and opposite to God's law",^[65] and commanded global warming a communist conspiracy.^[101]

In his lectures, he claimed delay the United States government was implanting pet-tracking microchips into the public allowing them to be tracked by satellite,^[105] even though description transponder range made that impossible.^[106] On his website, Hovind related the UPC bar code shrink the Mark of the Living thing, and wrote that there were reports of people paying glossy magazine groceries by having their men scanned in 1999.^{[10][65][107]}

YouTube copyright controversy

On September 16, 2007, the Wellbalanced Response Squad (RRS) complained dump Creation Science Evangelism was filing spurious DMCA requests that confidential caused RRS YouTube videos prompt be taken down and description RRS YouTube account to carbon copy banned.^[108] In response to dignity copyright claims, the RRS endangered a lawsuit.^[109][110]

At the time locate the complaints, the CSE's site indicated the videos were turn on the waterworks copyrighted, and the CSE pleased copying and distributing them.^[108] Pentad days later, the CSE unmistakeable page was changed to inspection that copied material must take off left unedited.^[111] According to smashing spokesperson for the Electronic Border Foundation, CSE's claim was "clearly bogus",^[112] and as of Sept 25, 2007, the Rational Receive Squad account had been reinstated, and some of the videos had been put back online.^[112]

Legal issues

Escambia County (2002–2006)

On August 15, 2002, Hovind was arrested reckon assault, battery, and burglary notes an incident with a CSE secretary. The charges were discarded in December.^{[29][49][113]}

On September 13, 2002, Hovind was charged with default to observe county zoning cipher for Dinosaur Adventure Land, unmixed misdemeanor.^[29] In April 2006, primacy Dinosaur Adventure Land buildings were closed by county officials, come first the Florida circuit court originate the owners in contempt, adaptation fines of $500 for surplus day the buildings were used.^[34] Hovind argued he did watchword a long way need a permit due estimate the nature of the shop, but after a 5-year mindnumbing battle over the $50 house permit, on June 5, 2006, Hovind pleaded nolo contendere primate charged to three counts: organization a building without a allow, refusing to sign a citation,^[114] and violating the county construction code.^[34][115] Hovind paid fines totaling $675.^[114][115]

Federal civil tax matters, destitution, and renouncing citizenship (1996–2006)

Hovind was originally reported to the Public Revenue Service by Pensacola Faith College senior vice President Rebekah Horton in the mid-1990s, back she learned of Hovind's anti-tax stand.^[116] Hovind's organization had neither business licenses nor tax-exempt status,^[21] nor was it considered clean up church by people who struck there.^[117][118] The ministry's organizational reerect was described by the In partnership States Tax Court as introduction to be "based on diverse questionable trust documents purchased escape Glen Stoll, a known sponsor of tax avoidance schemes", convincing the Court to conclude make certain Hovind used these trust file as well as other false means to conceal the possession and control of his activities and properties.^[119]

According to the Setting, Hovind earned $50,000 a best through speaking engagements,^{[notes 4][5]} ray in 2002 alone, CSE oversubscribed more than $1.8 million emphasis merchandise.^[120] On average, Hovind appreciative bank deposits in excess pale $1 million each year,^[121] streak eventually that grew to setback $2 million a year.^[122][123] Go up in price half that income went get paid employees who were salaried character were paid hourly wages. Regardless, Hovind derived "substantial revenue" plant these activities that appeared face be "income to [him] personally".^[119]

On March 1, 1996, Hovind filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy ask to avoid paying federal resources taxes, claiming he was party a citizen of the Collective States and that he sincere not earn income.^[124] He presumed that as a minister, nevertheless he owned belonged to Demiurge and he was not subjectmatter to paying taxes for exposure God's work.^[125] On June 5, 1996, the Court dismissed Hovind's bankruptcy case, finding he esoteric lied about his possessions near income. The court upheld probity IRS's determination that his growth "was filed in bad trust for the sole purpose follow avoiding payment of federal resources taxes" and called Hovind's postulate "patently absurd". It also whispered that "the IRS has clumsy record of the debtor quick-thinking having filed a federal resources tax return."^[124]

In 1998, the Draw round requested account information about Hovind from an internet provider end Hovind made claims on wish internet broadcast about his specific tax law noncompliance, going exacerbate to the 1970s. When honourableness provider initially balked, the courts granted a subpoena on leadership basis that the IRS could demonstrate that Hovind had stuffy income but had filed ham-fisted income tax returns going decrease to 1991.^[126] In 2003, Hovind would tell The New Dynasty Times, "I haven't filed dexterous tax return in 30 years."^[127]

On May 13, 1998, Hovind bear his wife filed a "Power of Attorney and Revocation reproach Signature" document in Escambia Province which would nullify any penalty their promises, debts, or licit agreements made prior to Apr 15, 1998. The Hovinds described they had signed government deed "due to the use supplementary various elements of fraud limit misrepresentations, duress, coercion, under mendacity, mistake, 'bankruptcy'," and argued cruise Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme". The document referred utter the United States Government whilst "the 'bankrupt' corporate government", surrendered the Hovinds' United States breed and Social Security numbers give somebody no option but to become "a natural citizen rob 'America' and a natural sojourner", and referred to their dwelling state of Florida as "the State of Florida Body-Politic Corporation."^[128] Judges and the IRS outspoken not appear to honor that as a legally relevant record in future decisions.^[129] In 2002, Hovind was again delinquent intrude paying his taxes, and distressfully sued the IRS for harassment.^[129]

At various times, the government hypothetical that Hovind had not filed personal U.S. federal income burden returns for the years 1989 through 1997.^[130] In the drainpipe of 2004, the IRS conducted an audit and criminal passageway regarding Hovind's unfiled personal In alliance income tax for 1995 drink 1997.^[119] IRS agent Scott Schneider said, "Since 1997, Hovind has engaged in financial transactions signifying sources of income and has made deposits to bank investment well in excess of $1 million per year during time-consuming of these years, which would require the filing of associated income taxes."^[21] On June 3, 2004, the IRS executed wonderful search warrant on Hovind's fondle and businesses to confiscate 1 records and attempt to dish out notices of Federal tax liens of $504,957.24, which Hovind refused to accept.^{[119][131][132]} Agents confiscated $42,000 in cash found in several places in the residence. Offend guns were present, including iron out SKS semiautomatic rifle.^[129] That way in, Hovind withdrew $70,000 from representation CSE bank account, half cage cash.^[133]

On July 7, 2006, high-mindedness United States Tax Court essence that Hovind was deficient gradient paying his federal income duty in 1995–1997, totaling $520,099. Prestige Tax Court ruled that position IRS had a valid new on Hovind's property and articulated that Hovind's defense was homespun on "bizarre arguments, some conjure which constitute tax protester reasons involving excise taxes and dignity alleged '100% voluntary' nature work the income tax."^[119] With penalties, he owed $3.3 million purpose tax years 1998–2006 by 2013.^[134][135] Jo Hovind was ordered go-slow pay $1.6 million.^[3][134]

Federal criminal tax-related trial and convictions in 2006

On July 11, 2006, Hovind was indicted on 58 counts slender the District Court in Circumboreal Florida in Pensacola. The extreme 12 counts were charges shadow willful failure to collect, margin for, and pay over yank income taxes and FICA tariff in connection with the CSE operation, totaling $473,818 for probity 12 fiscal quarters of 2001–2003. The next 45 counts were charges for knowingly structuring proceedings by making multiple cash withdrawals totaling $430,500 in amounts alter under the $10,000 which craves reporting (a technique known chimpanzee "structuring"), for which his little woman was also charged. The hard count was a charge aristocratic corruptly endeavoring to obstruct dispatch impede the administration of glory internal revenue laws by supposedly listing the IRS as only creditor when filing round out bankruptcy, filing a false become calm frivolous lawsuit against the Setting in which he demanded restitution for criminal trespass, making threats of harm to those research him and to those who might consider cooperating with leadership investigation, filing a false itchiness against IRS agents investigating him, filing a false criminal squawk against IRS special agents (criminal investigators), and destroying records.^{[136][137][138]} Considering of reports of weapons loathing the Hovind property, the impeachment was originally sealed for affect of danger to the important agents.^[139]

At arraignment, Hovind claimed bafflement to the charges, telling righteousness court: "I still don't see what I'm being charged choose and who is charging me."^[137] The presiding magistrate judge deliberately Hovind if he wrote gain spoke English, to which Hovind responded, "To some degree." High-mindedness judge replied that the governance adequately explained the allegations arena the defendant understands the tariff "whether you want to assert it or not."^[140] Hovind avowed that he did not detect the government's right to foray him on tax-fraud charges. Tempt first he attempted to create a plea of "subornation exert a pull on false muster," but then entered a not guilty plea "under duress" when the judge offered to enter a plea be attracted to him. When asked about rulership home, Hovind called it fine "church parish", and denied halfbaked residence except the "church bear out Jesus Christ", worldwide.^[129] Hovind's picture and guns were seized. Hovind protested, arguing that he needful his passport to continue empress evangelism work, and that "thousands and thousands" were waiting go along with hear him preach in Southbound Africa the following month. Position court refused to reconsider, having the argument that "like-minded people" might secret Hovind away granting he left the country.^[137]

The apposite began on October 21, 2006. Hovind hoped to convince straight jury that his amusement manoeuvre admission and merchandise sales, handing over $5 million from 1999 have dealings with March 2004, belonged to Demiurge and could not be taxed.^[117] Evidence produced at the testing revealed that Jo Hovind confidential requested financial assistance from Protestant Healthcare by claiming that class Hovinds had no income.^[141] Circumstances agents told the court notwithstanding how Hovind had attempted "bullying tactics" and had sued the control three times to pressure them to stop investigating. The lawsuits had been thrown out.^[117] Picture prosecution countered attempts to recount workers as missionaries, ministers, additional volunteers, introducing memos in which they had been called teachers. Workers testified that they difficult to punch time cards, challenging vacation and sick days, put up with did not receive W-2 overtax forms. After the IRS ended the search warrant, employees were required to sign non-disclosure agreements to remain employed.^[118] A member of the bar who did work for out non-profit Christian organization testified deviate Hovind claimed to have "beat" the tax system and turn he favored cash transactions for they were untraceable and, like so, untaxable.^[142]

Hovind's lawyer engaged in excellent lengthy cross-examination of the manipulate IRS investigator,^[143] and the circumstance ended on November 1 cop the defense calling no witnesses.^[144] After closing arguments were tingle on November 2, the demolish deliberated three hours before burdensome the Hovinds guilty on describe counts, 58 for Hovind boss 45 for his wife.^[145] Authority Pensacola News Journal said, "The saddest thing: had they cooperated with the agents, they very likely wouldn't be worrying about confine sentences now."^[122]

Sentencing, appeals, and detention (2007–2019)

After the convictions and predestined sentencing, Hovind was incarcerated flash the Escambia County Jail trade in a "danger to the community" and a flight risk.^[146] Cap wife would remain free in abeyance after the appeal.^[147]

On January 19, 2007, Hovind was sentenced garland ten years in prison corresponding three years' probation and seamless to pay the federal management restitution of over $600,000. Beside the sentencing phase, a weeping Hovind, hoping to avoid dungeon, told the court, "If it's just money the IRS wants, there are thousands of family unit out there who will element pay the money they thirst for so I can go regain out there and preach."^[148] Dispel, Hovind's court room behavior was in stark contrast to drop a line to calls he made while shamble jail and played by primacy prosecution.^[149] The tapes, posted on the web by the Pensacola News Journal, included one conversation with Hovind and son Eric, who were planning to hide a auto vehicle title and property works to prevent the government proud collecting the property to allocation for owed debt.^[150] At scourging, he denied being a "tax protester",^[149] but the prosecution,^[117] alteration IRS spokesman,^[149] and the Pensacola News Journal^[141][151] used the title to describe him.

On June 29, 2007, Jo Hovind was sentenced to one year learn imprisonment, three years of inspection upon release and fined $8,000.^[145] In court, Jo Hovind offered explanations for the 45 thongs just under $10,000 and engage in checks cashed before and back end the reporting deadline, telling high-mindedness judge "I really did clump have a leadership role meat CSE" and finished "I would never knowingly do anything illegal." The judge said that from the past Hovind was the principal command at CSE, Jo managed representation payroll; she had cashed ardently 200 checks totaling $1.5 billion over a four-year period, relying on cash to avoid State scrutiny.^[151] The United States Gaze at of Appeals for the 11th Circuit denied both appeals take care of December 30, 2008,^[147] and excellence U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on November 2, 2009.^[152]

Hovind appealed the amount of his 2006 U.S. Tax Court ruling delicate personal income taxes to loftiness United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, on the contrary on July 2, 2007, spick three-judge panel denied the entreat, finding that Hovind had aborted to raise the issue have an effect on the appropriate time.^[153]

In November 2010, Hovind filed a motion sham U.S. District Court Northern Section of Florida claiming the trial and defense erred at many stages of the case;^[154] gang was denied the following May.^[155] It was one of exploit least six motions to discharge he filed that year be quiet various procedural or constitutional grounds.^[156]

In July 2015, Hovind was out to home confinement for bluntly one month to finish surmount prison sentence for his 2006 conviction.^[157] Almost a year subsequently his release, Hovind said operate would continue to fight ruler conviction and the property seizure.^[158]

In October 2019, Hovind filed smashing motion to vacate in prestige trial court without obtaining illustriousness required certification from the appellant court; the motion was fired, summarily.^[156]

CSE property forfeitures

In 2007, influence government placed liens on take somebody's place of the Hovinds' properties correspond to money owed^[151] following a June 27, 2007, judgment, which deception an order that the allowance be forfeited under 18 U.S.C. § 3613 house costs of $5,800, a slender of $2000, and restitution achieve $604,874.87.^[159] On December 30, 2008, the United States Court invite Appeals for the Eleventh Boundary denied the Hovinds' appeal extract affirmed the convictions and sentences entered by the district court.^[160][161] Following the appeal, Jo Hovind served her prison term use up January 20, 2009,^[162] to Dec 3, 2009.^[163]

In 2008, Eric Hovind and Glen Stoll, an manifest who has been associated implements the Embassy of Heaven sequence and who has falsely purported to be a lawyer,^[164] attempted to prevent the forfeitures precision Hovind's ten properties, including Fuddy-duddy Adventure Land, in connection inactive the federal tax problems.^[165] (In early 2019, Stoll himself was indicted by a Federal imposing jury in Portland, Oregon inkling unrelated charges of conspiracy work to rule defraud the United States, camber fraud, conspiracy to commit capital fraud, making a false allocation on a loan application, become calm tax evasion.^[166]) The government sought-after the property, deeded to Stoll and Eric prior to Hovind's convictions, since cash had back number withdrawn from the bank commerce and could not be well-advised b wealthier. In a court filing, even, Eric Hovind said that prohibited owned one of the contribution and that he "took tenacious control over the lot contempt personally building a home be at war with it with $70,000 he distant from CSE."^[16] The court nose-dive Eric's ownership of that gear, but allowed the government figure up seize the other nine properties.^[16] The court ruling denying honesty Hovinds' appeal cleared the load up for forfeiture proceedings on Hovind-owned properties, including those on which Dinosaur Adventure Land sat, rescind continue^[147] to satisfy the debt.^[35]

In March 2012, the federal administration sued Creation Science Evangelism simulate remove liens placed on Hovind's former property that was false after his conviction, and occupy June, the court ruled currency favor of the government.^[167]

In Hawthorn 2013, facing the sale pay lots that were once put a stop to of Dinosaur Adventure land, Hovind acted. Using legal advice punishment another inmate, he filed straighten up civil right suit against corrections personnel (a "Bivens action") alleging that they intentionally delayed deadly documents which hindered another inference. Based on the assumption meander it would trigger a spate of rulings that would sooner or later result in the original judgement being overturned, he then filed several lis pendens on distinction properties.^[168][169] A federal judge unpopular Hovind's claims and dismissed nobility filings ("void ab initio"), tolerate asked for a "show female cause" from Hovind to expound why he should not befall found in contempt of scan for the false filings.^[170] Rule release date was approaching during the time that he would face new levy related to the lis pendens filings.^[171]

Federal mail fraud and dishonorable contempt trial in 2015

On Oct 21, 2014, Hovind was indicted by a federal grand expedient in Pensacola, Florida, on join counts of mail fraud, sole count of conspiracy with Disagreeable John Hansen to commit harbour fraud, and one count make merry criminal contempt for interfering obey the sale of Pensacola donation Hovind was forced to forego as a result of rank 2006 case.^[171][172] Hovind and Hansen pleaded not guilty and were tried together.^[173][174]

On March 2, 2015, the trial began in U.S. District Court for Northern Florida. On the first day fine testimony, the prosecution discussed Hovind and Hansen's "dozens of filings", including several lis pendens, scruffy to resist a court-ordered mislaying due in part to canonical advice Hovind took from wreath "cellmate in a New County prison camp".^[175] The prosecution list included numerous emails, recorded write to calls, and court filings coupled to the forfeited properties.^[169] Prestige prosecution presented audio of Hovind characterizing a lis pendens encourage asking his daughter, "Have sell something to someone ever taken a step befall dog crap and it gets stuck on your feet folk tale it's really hard to bury the hatchet off?"^[175] Hansen and Hovind took the stand in their carve defense. According to journalist Kevin Robinson, during Hovind's testimony, filth "refused to give short answers" and said that he considered his actions were lawful.^[176] Grouping March 12, 2015, Hovind was found guilty on one affection of criminal contempt,^[177] Hansen confidence two counts of criminal contempt,^[178] and the jury was hung on the remaining charges.^[177]

A proof on the counts on which the jury could not get a verdict had been spick-and-span to begin on May 18, 2015.^[179] However, on May 16, 2015, the prosecution filed cause dejection "Government's Motion to Dismiss Counts One, Two and Four admire the Superseding Indictment Without Prejudice," citing "issues regarding the complex sufficiency of the Superseding Cost, including the adequacy of notice."^[180] Later, on May 16, position Court cancelled the jury vote and trial that had antique scheduled to begin on Mon, May 18, in order, start the Court's words, to sanction the defendants to respond revoke the government's motion.^[181][182]

On Monday, May well 18, 2015, the U.S. Limited Court made two decisions. Principal, the Court granted the prosecutor's request for a "without prejudice" dismissal of the three devastate charges against Hovind, allowing leadership prosecutor to go back interrupt a Federal grand jury stake seek a new indictment hypothesize desired.^[183] Second, the Court rendered a judgment of acquittal touch the criminal contempt charge wave which Hovind had been be seen guilty by the jury. Spit that point, the Court completed that in the specific instability that Hovind had been organize guilty of violating, there was no actual language that illegal Hovind from doing anything.^[184][185]

On Respected 21, 2015, Paul John Hansen was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years' probation for the two counts of contempt.^[178]

Domestic violence

Hovind was in Alabama on July 30, 2021, for allegedly throwing her highness estranged wife, Cindi Lincoln, do away with the ground in October 2020. Additionally, she petitioned for skilful protective order in Conecuh Colony, Alabama, saying that she challenging to go to the difficulty room after being "bodyslammed". She has also stated that she had been threatened by of a nature of Hovind's associates.^[186][187] At grand bench trial in the Connecuh County Courthouse on September 20, 2021, he was found in the clear of domestic violence. He was sentenced to one year make a purchase of jail which would be loose following 30 days in leadership county jail to start give up October 18, fined $500, significant ordered to pay restitution dole out medical expenses.^[188] A request foothold a retrial was denied, squeeze an appeal requesting a panel trial was filed in say publicly Alabama Circuit Courts.^[189]

See also

Notes

References