In mid March as I struggled with corporate extensions and continued wrestling with the tangible property regulations, my friend, filmmaker Jonathan Schwartz was in Pensacola covering the trial of Kent Hovind, Independent Baptist Minister and young earth creationist charged with contempt of court and fraud.
Jonathan’s account of the final day of trial, to which he brought his filmmakers eye will be delivered in six installments. – PJR
Paint by numbers.
An account of the closing arguments in the 2015 trial of Kent Hovind aka Dr Dino.
Hovind will be found guilty despite the fine defense put up by his court appointed attorney. He will be convicted, Here are the facts, Episode one of six.
Charged
Kent Hovind was accused of interfering with the sale of forfeited property seized as a result of a conviction for structuring – the systematic withdrawal of amounts somewhat less than $10,000 to avoid currency reporting requirements. The trial took place this March in Pensacola, Florida. Hovind was found guilty of contempt of court. The trial has been declared a mistrial, continued to May on the remaining fraud and conspiracy charges as a result of a hung jury. It seems as if there was a single juror reluctant to throw the book at Hovind.
Hoopla bereft of the reality of the courtroom
For months, there have been hundreds of hours of video blogging by members of the Christian right, thousands of words penned by experts offering analysis, barely veiled death threats against the judge and prosecution team courtesy of the lunatic fringe, street demonstrations by those who sincerely believe Hovind is being persecuted because he is a Creationist Christian, and finally, conference calls and strategy sessions hurriedly convened by the best minds in the Sovereign Citizen, tax protest and various conspiracy theory movements. They are trying to plot the best recourse to free Kent Hovind and resuscitate a version of his dinosaur themed creationist theme park and ministry.
All this has just about nothing to do with what is going on in the courtroom.
That is important to remember. Because none of it will have any impact on the case. The jury and judge will decide if he is guilty and what’s to happen with him. And they will do so within stringent federal sentencing guidelines and other constraints which have nothing to do with the judge’s personal feelings as portrayed by Hovind’s supporters who actively engage in smear tactics of the most base sort.
Guilty
Yes, he’s guilty, despite a spirited defense lawyer and a relentless social media campaign. It’s easy to forget sometimes, with all the hoopla. He is not the marathon bomber, nor Nelson Mandela nor Leonard Peltier nor Aung San Suu Kyi. It’s time to lay out why the prosecution will win despite a robust defense and a handful of supporters willing to throw themselves on the sword for him for their own political gain, or out of solidarity,plain pity, or because they think dinosaurs remain the best toys.
The Federal Government VS Kent Hovind and Paul Hansen. Closing arguments.
Good morning Pensacola. Good morning Courtroom.
Hovind and Hansen showed up for the closing arguments of the trial wearing darker suits then on previous days. They are similar in physique, lean, a bit professorial, decidedly boyish with hair swept in neat parts. The seats for observers were comfortably full, one or two of us journalists, the rest Hovind supporters from out of town, some in suits, some in Jesus T-shirts. A half-dozen Ukrainian twenty year olds had come down from Virginia, friendly but looking like they could handle themselves.
Blogger Rudy Davis and his entourage of half a dozen were in attendance, as they had been daily. Rudy liked to occasionally get up and leave the courtroom in a dramatic fashion, seemingly to update an important person in the movement or check in with his stockbroker. I wanted to give him paper, I felt bad, because he took notes on graph paper (very European for a Texan) in tiny neat letters like a castaway on some Pacific Rim island with just a single sheet of paper remaining, and trying to write his will.
I sat next to George Lujack for most of the closing day. He’s a creationist and debates fellow Christians and Catholics with great enthusiasm, but’s that not why I sat next to him. He is an ex-NY cop built more like an ex-cage wrestler, except bigger. Big head, big knuckles, big wrists, and if there was one guy there that looked as if could give the suited federal marshals a run for their money it was George. Journalists want to ride the bomb just like Dr. Strangelove, we gravitate towards aberrance. But he didn’t act rash, just muttered softly (any audible muttering or utterances was immediately shushed by the Marshals) under his breath. Once, only once, I was richly rewarded by a Lujack getting particularly annoyed at a cross by prosecutor US ADA Tiffany Eggers and he cracked his neck, loudly. The way a thug cracks his neck before beating the kindly Dutch shopkeeper for being a day late on his protection monies.
In from the cold
A couple of families new to the court room had previously been out of doors demonstrating. Their young, Christian homeschooled children were getting a free lesson in civics and joining the Free Kent movement in one go. In clean Khakis and knee socks, again, the children accompanying their parents in protest were remarkably well behaved, and not the least bit twitchy.
And of course, there were the regulars, Rudy Davis and his entourage in the Free Kent Hovind movement. They were middle-aged men, mostly from around the Gulf, mostly devoted anti-government Christians with a sprinkling of straight up right wing tax protesters. There was a doctor who had served 13 years in various lock ups finally returning to his home town and a Pensacola jail, since burned to the ground. He almost lost an eye from a lock in a sock swung at him.
What they generally had in common, aside from the fact that they were all pretty nice in person, friendly and earnest in their preaching, is deep dislike for evolutionists, and more often intense disgust for Jews, Blacks, Catholics, Evolutionists, female judges, female assistant district attorneys, and anyone who disagreed with them. They like to taunt their detractors, especially over the internet.
Hovindicators, a new social movement or angry creationist shock- jock porn putting on a show for each other ?
Someone mentioned today that they, the Hovindactors, had built a movement. I disagree. It is akin to a chimera. The Free Kent Hovind types post and post, and hurl lurid school boy insults at their opponents. Their opponents parry, as expected, and it becomes cyclical and self-sustaining for the Hovindicators especially but everyone gets a measure of attention. The Hovind supporters get to act out for a good cause, show sympathy, and have their offbeat beliefs affirmed in guest appearances on rabid Youtube blogs hosted by kindred souls who rant on similar topics. This is not a social movement, it is an opportunistic one, a chance to attach oneself to a cause that others are carrying on about.
I have been part of or witnessed many grassroots movements, in many countries and all along the political spectrum. Real movements spread, they gain more followers at a good clip, their ideology deepens, and the cause gains new perspectives and molts.
Most of the folks supporting Hovind have long been staunch free Kent choir members. Kent is a Christian who went to the federal pen for not paying taxes and being obnoxious about it. As Hovind enjoys little support in this home town there is zero local movement building going on in Pensacola. He is ridiculed, not because of his religious beliefs, not in Pensacola which is a cradle of imaginative and orthodox fundamentalist interpretation, but because he brought shame, and risk through his tax shenanigans. At the core of the Hovind movement is a group with their own form of hate-anyone-not-like-us porno, getting attention by spitting spew, presenting the same half dozen talking points, making the rounds of each other’s webcasts, like a high school lacrosse team on a yellow bus. Not a movement, just comments about comments on social media.
Federal Judge Margaret Casey addresses the Jury
The Judge admonished the full courtroom that there could be no disruption or people would be removed. After almost a week and a half, we were one big happy family and security and such was visibly looser despite the Judge’s preventative scolding. One stern Marshall manning the metal detector at the lobby entrance turned out to be from New Hampshire, we talked ice and fly fishing, and ski mobiles out in the wilderness. He still took my phone, water bottle and extra pen, but let me chug my coffee on the first floor. And yes, after many tries I found a great coffee shop near the Courthouse. Polanza Bistro, phenomenal.
Judge’s instruction to the Jury. Do not be influenced by sympathy! Are they guilty, or not?
As trials in her courtroom go, “this has not been a long trial” the Judge said.
For most of us assembled, it felt like a hundred years or so had elapsed, so I had one of those “if you say so” kind of moments.
She asked that the Juror’s not be influenced by sympathy or otherwise for the defendants or the government. She then went on to define reasonable doubt as the sort of common sense that you would enlist in making determinations in your own affairs. Her tone was kind, clear, and none of her admonishments were delivered in a way that seemed intended to skew. We who have been watching cop and crime shows all of our lives never heard instructions to the jury before, not once, and by no means was all that she was explaining and rolling out instantly intuitive. She was defining how one gets to the guilty or non-guilty stage, what you ought to hold into account and how this differs from the Hollywood version of a jury doling out justice.
She then explained the Criminal Forfeiture, 18 U.S. Code § 982 and listed the properties it was to include.
You have that to look forward to in the next installment.
Pedant's Corner. Third last paragraph: "She asked that the Juror's…"
This fool Jonathan Schwartz is not a good filmmaker first off and secondly, he wrote an article trying to make Pastor Hovind look bad because he was constantly flying around the world preaching and debating and he sometimes "slept at the restaurant table" because he was exhausted….
Jonathan Schwartz, Peter Reilly, Robert Baty, Dee Holmes and the other circus members are clowns dancing around a ring nobody cares about….
Peter Reilly and team ally themselves with an ex IRS employee and anti-religion extremist who admit they lie about Pastor Hovind on purpose >>> http://freekenthovind.com/2015/01/30/lies-rlbaty-kent-hovind-jo-hovind-v-usa-irs/
The DOJ admitted Pastor Hovind should be a free man….. >>> http://www.natlawreview.com/article/new-doj-policy-asset-forfeiture-structuring-offenses
^ Remarkable case in point display of Schwartz's Hovindicator supporters above. ^
The anonymous whiner wrote, in part:
– "The DOJ admitted Pastor Hovind should be a free man."
I think that is, at this late date, something that would qualify as a flat out lie by the anonymous whiner.
For instance, the article referenced states, in part:
– "The new policy restricts the use by prosecutors
– of civil or criminal asset forfeiture for structuring
– until after a defendant has been criminally charged
– or found to have engaged in additional criminal activity."
Kent's forfeiture came after he was charged and after he was tried and convicted.
If the anonymous whiner's wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
No DOJ did not admit Pastor Hovind should be a free man. All the apologies and policy changes were about civil forfeiture which is done without trial. Hovind's forfeiture was based on a criminal conviction.
No, the IRS back peddling, having to apologize to Americans for stealing over a quarter billion, abusing structuring, and the DOJ having to admit they are in cahoots with the IRS, illegally and criminally persecuting Christians/Americans is an outright admission – Public Relations stunt…
They have received hundreds of calls/letters from Kent Hovind supporters
They know they have wrongfully imprisoned Kent Hovind and are under damage control….
Hundreds? Maybe dozens. Maybe.
One reason anonymous whiners like the above can continue to misbehave is because they do not fear ever being held accountable for their "fool"ishness.
It shows.
I'm still waiting for Kent to man-up and either accept or reject my challenge, publicly, and maybe even repent and simply join with me in affirming the proposition on structuring as it applies to his case; something he and his people have spent more than 8 years falsely representing.
See:
http://ytmp.blogspot.com/2015/03/retired-irs-kent-hovind-critic-seeks-to.html
Robert Baty’s Structuring Proposal for Discussion
Withdrawing less than $10,000 in a single transaction
with the intent to evade bank reporting requirements
is a violation of the law and regulations and was at
the time of the Hovind withdrawals in question and
was the legal standard used to convict Kent Hovind
of “structuring”.
Robert Baty – Affirm
Kent Hovind – Deny
Ah, Peter, stringing this out over six installments is cruel and unusual. Something like a soap opera that spreads out a day's events over a full week of 36 minutes of programming in an hour interspersed with 24 minutes of commercials. Please be kind, and speed it up. Pretty please with Schedules a, b, c, d and e on top?
Because it's great reporting, actual detail, color commentary a Rudy Davis could only in his wildest dreams approach, and those tasty, crunchy facts the Hovindicators shrink from like it was the boogeyman hiding under the bed of their mortal souls.
Bravo, Jonathan and have mercy, Peter!
I think it's important to establish the credibility of the reporters on this matter. For example, Rudy Davis is not only a staunch supporter of Hovind, he's also a Geocentrist, and believes the sun goes around while the earth stands still.
There's no way to argue against this, he's got Bible quotes and everything.
http://youtu.be/32T56YC-X1I
I sense a lot of jealousy of Christian brotherhood in this dribble of a report. FreeKentHovind.com I feel pity for those who are so blinded by the NWO and their attempt to persecute Christians. YOU are on the list as well. It is just a matter of time.
Ah, Anonymous, have you anything substantive to the felon's first criminal convictions, the second one, and the potential next ones that were hung by one juror in the most recent trial or are you just here to suggest how OTHERS are blinded?
"YOU are on the list as well." It looks as though Erin is already oiling up her big, pink 45s ready for the Second Coming.
Great article. Thank you Jonathan, and Peter. Looking forward to the next installment!
I Find It Amazing How Much Dr. Kent Hovind Is Hated (Part 1)
1. If the letter(s) in question that he sent was/were hand delivered there would be no "mail fraud" charge. The letter contained nothing to defraud anyone but simply to let the potential buyer(s) beware that ownership is still pending litigation. Yet he is now potentially facing 20 years per letter because the letter(s) in question were delivered by the U.S. Mail? This is absurd! I think a jury who understands why our judicial system was set up to have the right to a 'jury' (a sworn body of people convened to render an IMPARTIAL verdict)
should understand that they certainly can have sympathy and realize that their government has gone rogue for trying to misuse the law to keep a man in prison for the rest of his life. Oh, how he is hated! But why?
2. The mail fraud charge itself is fraudulent. But if it were not, consider this: Jim Guy Tucker, former Governor of Arkansas after Bill Clinton and, Bill Clinton's Lieutenant Governor before that, was convicted of one count of conspiracy and one count of MAIL FRAUD. Yet, his sentence was only "four years' probation and house detention.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Guy_Tucker#Conviction_and_resignation
Not so with Dr. Hovind! Dr. Kent Hovind is facing 20 years in prison per letter. That makes it a life sentence (the remaining years of his life) for mailing a letter(s). He is not dangerous nevertheless, he is hated.
(mail and wire fraud is any fraudulent scheme to intentionally deprive another of property or honest services via mail or wire communication.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_and_wire_fraud
3. For the U.S. Government to use mail fraud charges against a U.S. citizen to prevent citizen from using the U.S. mail to deliver a lis pendens (pending litigation) or a charge of contempt of court (the Judge ordered him not to do what?) in order to prevent citizen from "petition(ing) the Government for a redress of grievances" is unconstitutional. (But this man must be stopped at all costs! Pardon the sarcasm). Oh, how he is hated!
(a lis pendens is a written notice that a lawsuit has been filed concerning real estate, involving either the title to the property or a claimed ownership interest in it.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis_pendens
I Find It Amazing How Much Dr. Kent Hovind Is Hated (Part 2)
4. Dr. Hovind is specifically targeted by the Hovind Haters because he has been very successful in shedding light on a terrible theory: http://creationtoday.org/category/creation-seminars/
(Yes, I am convinced of this. I remember when the evolutionist Hovind Haters petitioned the judge to give him the max possible because, “he is poisoning the minds of children.” It’s not about taxes, its’ about inalienable rights. The right to free speech and religion. I would think otherwise if he was charged for not paying personal income tax, but he wasn’t! The charges are so complicated that they have a hard time producing a list clearly stating the charges and time in prison for each charge.)
5. IF* the FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION was NOT disregarded Dr. Kent Hovind would never have been put in prison in the first place.
(Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution#Text
It is CLEAR the charges against Dr. Kent Hovind are not about personal income tax (There are no charges concerning personal income tax against him. The IRS stole ministry money and ministry property). His ministries are clearly religious (not a for profit business… his material was not even copyrighted). He is not accused of receiving taxes to fund his religion (as evolution is funded). So, what does the IRS have him in prison for? Structuring? Taking too small amounts of money out of the bank? Or is it too large amounts of money? Who's money?
The Hovind Haters can only justify what is happening to Dr. Kent Hovind by disregarding the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. A Jury can only find him guilty when they abide by instructions that disregard the First Amendment. The answers the Hovind haters give and comments they make only make it more clear that the IRS has become a criminal enterprise—a rogue agency that abuses its power by harassing groups for political reasons. The U.S. Constitution is being spit on by the far left and the Hovind Haters and more Americans will lose freedom as a result. It is time to FREE KENT HOVIND and end the IRS.
There needs to be more than an apology from the IRS. There needs to be compensation.
http://www.FairTax.org
http://www.freekenthovind.com
1 & 2 — Pending litigation from the incorrigible Hovind had no legal basis. The case was ajudicated, appeals were final. The SCOTUS refused review. The property was no long his, thus any paperwork claiming it was subject to litigation was fraudulent. Using the mail to perpetuate that fraud is mail fraud. Each case is subject to it's own set of facts. Bringing up other cases shows ignorance of that fact. Hovind quite likely will not get 20 years if convicted on all other charges. But be that as it may, if he committed crimes with less time than enough to serve the sentence imposed that is NOT a life sentence and he brought it on himself in any case. Your special pleading for him is based on specious "facts". 3 The lis pendens in a case that was closed was fraudulent. Hovind knew or should have known that he was in contempt of court order and passing fraudulent paperwork. You don't get to endlessly "petition the government for redress of your delusional grievances after the final decision and appeals have run their course. The courts owe you no endless round of frivolous litigation. Your gross misunderstanding of the Constitution is noted and just as frivolous as Kent's appeals. To the extent Hovind is hated is because he is an unrepentant, incorrigible tax cheat and felon. We look down on that in civil society. Only a smattering of 'true believers' feel otherwise. #4 Your claim of Christian persecution is hogwash–Hovind perpetuated hogwash. And Hovind is a repeat felon. Your memory of petitions to the judge for the max for poisoning childrens minds is spurious. Prove it. #5, Your understanding of the First Amendment is inadequate at best and the rest of the bloviating on your part 2 is unmitigated delusional drivel. No apology is due Hovind. Hovind owes his wife and society an apology. But he's an unapologetic sociopath. And you're one of his more recent patsies. Go ask the churches in Pensacola why they don't support him. And then ask yourself why you don't know any better than to learn from their intelligent example.
@ PlutoDog
I liked the way you covered so much of what the anonymous whiner had to say; the substantive details.
"The charges are so complicated that they have a hard time producing a list clearly stating the charges and time in prison for each charge.)"
Charges:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_of_America_v_Kent_Hovind_and_Jo_Hovind
From the sentencing transcript:
"Pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 and all amendments, it is the judgment of the Court that the defendant, Kent E. Hovind, is hereby committed to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a term of 120 months. That is comprised of 60 months as to Counts 1 through 56, all of which to run concurrent, 57 — 60 months, excuse me, consecutive as to Count 57, and 36 months concurrent as to Count 58, which results in a sentence of 120 months, which is within the guideline range."
That wasn't so difficult.
Luke 11:9
@ Samphire
And those charges are seemingly quite simply stated in the indictment for those inclined to look it up yet again!
Hovind Haters hate this (part 1)
It all hinges on The First Amendment and the Hovind Haters hate this. The only way in which they can justify their defense and hatred is by disregarding The First Amendment. The IRS stole ministry money and ministry property, not personal income. There is a reason he was not charged for not paying personal income. Don’t you think the IRS would have charge him for not paying personal income if they could? Instead, they had to misuse structuring laws (10 years for 57 counts of withdrawing/using ministry money for ministry purposes).
In response to Plutodog's jumbled mess of logic clear as mud (in “quotations”):
Plutodog April 7, 2015 at 5:50 PM
"1 & 2 — Pending litigation from the incorrigible Hovind had no legal basis.”
1. If the letter(s) in question that he sent was/were hand delivered there would be no "mail fraud" charge.
This is a fact. Just be honest about it. State it plainly and clearly for the sake of factual truth rather than spewing more Hovind Hate, please.
Plutodog April 7, 2015 at 5:50 PM
"The SCOTUS refused review. The property was no long his, thus any paperwork claiming it was subject to litigation was fraudulent. Hovind quite likely will not get 20 years if convicted on all other charges. But be that as it may, if he committed crimes with less time than enough to serve the sentence imposed that is NOT a life sentence and he brought it on himself in any case."
The IRS stole ministry property. His appeal hinges on the first trial. Everything about Dr. Kent Hovind’s sentencing is excessive (even if he were guilt) and questionable.
The mail fraud charge itself is fraudulent. But if it were not, consider that Jim Guy Tucker, former Governor of Arkansas after Bill Clinton and, Bill Clinton's Lieutenant Governor before that, was convicted of one count of conspiracy and one count of MAIL FRAUD. Yet, his sentence was only "four years' probation and house detention.”
As a U.S. citizen he has the right to appeal. Plutodog is right in saying that “they refuse to review” and therefore took that right away from him.
Hovind Haters hate this (part 2)
Plutodog April 7, 2015 at 5:50 PM
"3 The lis pendens in a case that was closed was fraudulent. Hovind knew or should have known that he was in contempt of court order and passing fraudulent paperwork. You don't get to endlessly "petition the government for redress of your delusional grievances after the final decision and appeals have run their course.”
Run their course? The "court order" robbed him of his right to appeal. He was tried once (only once), and that without defense because he was persuaded that the charges were so bogus that he did not need to give a defense. Integrity and the spirit of Americanism (freedom and justice) would give the guy an appeal to a fair trial rather than spewing more Hovind Hate.
Plutodog April 7, 2015 at 5:50 PM
"To the extent Hovind is hated is because he is an unrepentant, incorrigible tax cheat and felon. We look down on that in civil society. Only a smattering of 'true believers' feel otherwise. “
Here we have Hovind Hate manifesting into “true believers’” hate.
That dirty rotten tax cheat’n scoundrel!
Al Sharpton?
No, Kent Hovind, you moron!
Oh, right, the “true believer”
Plutodog April 7, 2015 at 5:50 PM
"Go ask the churches in Pensacola why they don't support him. And then ask yourself why you don't know any better than to learn from their intelligent example."
They’ve either been mislead,
They’re blind or,
They’re cowards (All they have to fear is the IRS, a corrupt judicial system, and 10 years to life in prison. And if they appeal via U.S. mail they can count on 20 more years for mail fraud).
By the way, count 58 (as best I can tell in their clear as mud wording), is for praying for the IRS agent who hung himself (before he hung himself of course). Or was it a different IRS agent that felt threatened by the wrath of God because of Kent Hovind’s prayer? Was he afraid of God or Hovind? Maybe someone can help me understand the details of the prayer, who he prayed for, and how it was conceived as a threat worth throwing a man in prison for.
“The IRS stole ministry money and ministry property, not personal income.”
When Kent owes tax he claims the cash and property are “the ministry’s”. When the government seizes the assets then Kent always refers to it as “my property”. Ask yourself a simple question. If the entire Pensacola Hovind clan had been naturally selected by falling off a cliff who would have been in line to inherit the assets – the successor-in-title to the defunct legally-undefined “ministry” or some out-of-town relative? If the latter, then for all legal purposes Kent and Jo were the legal proprietors of those assets whatever Kent self-servingly claims to the contrary. If the former then please give us its identity.
Also, while Kent was enjoying his vow of poverty he and Jo were giving land to Eric and lending him $50,000 to build his house. How does somebody with no assets manage to lend large sums of money?
“By the way, count 58 (as best I can tell in their clear as mud wording), is for praying for the IRS agent who hung himself (before he hung himself of course).”
You really are a disgusting person. The court took little note of Kent’s childish voodoo imprecations other than it demonstrated his entire philosophical outlook on tax matters. Why don’t you take the trouble to read the trial transcript in which you will find full details of Kent spending many years abusing the legal process and trying to make life hell for those who were simply doing their job. It’s a really nasty trait in Kent (which you and Rudy have enthusiastically and readily adopted) that, while amassing a $1m property portfolio out of undeclared income, he sought (and still seeks) to have these honest and patriotic American citizens put out of work and into jail. It was for this vicious time-wasting and bullying mania Kent had for the IRS and the legal system that he received a penalty in the form of 3 years extra jail time, luckily for him, running concurrently with the other terms.
You are so consumed by your extreme religious delusions that you are incapable of understanding even the simplest of facts about Kent’s case.
As I recall, there were at least 9 diverse and specific acts which went in to the evaluation of the obstruction charge, including such things as operating in cash, filing bankruptcy, the praying thing, and filing frivolous suits against government employees.
As you suggest, Samphire, the praying thing was just one of many acts that went in to the obstruction conviction.
And even at that, the 3 year sentence for obstruction was concurrent with the 10 on other charges; didn't really add any time to the sentence.
A few of the hidden yet “SIMPLEST FACTS ABOUT KENT’S CASE” and the Hovind Haters (as revealed by Samphire) Part 1
Fact: To separate a man from his ministry is simple. So, create doubt and confusion:
Samphire April 8, 2015 at 5:15 AM
"When Kent owes tax he claims the cash and property are “the ministry’s”. When the government seizes the assets then Kent always refers to it as “my property”. Ask yourself a simple question. If the entire Pensacola Hovind clan had been naturally selected by falling off a cliff who would have been in line to inherit the assets – the successor-in-title to the defunct legally-undefined “ministry” or some out-of-town relative? If the latter, then for all legal purposes Kent and Jo were the legal proprietors of those assets whatever Kent self-servingly claims to the contrary. If the former then please give us its identity.”
Besides, If the ministry owed taxes then don’t claim it is Hovind that owes taxes and don’t claim that the ministry can be tax exempt but the “owner” of the ministry must pay personal income tax on the ministry. If a ministry can be taxed than the First Amendment means nothing.
Fact: Dr. Kent Hovind had taken a LEGAL vow of poverty. He owned nothing and owed nothing.
Samphire April 8, 2015 at 5:15 AM
"Also, while Kent was enjoying his vow of poverty he and Jo were giving land to Eric and lending him $50,000 to build his house. How does somebody with no assets manage to lend large sums of money?"
A vow of poverty does not mean the person cannot ride in a commercial plane, or stay in a hotel, or drive millions of miles all over the country doing ministry work, or stay on ministry property between meetings. The Hovind Haters seem to imply that because he took a vow of poverty that he had to live and sleep on the streets. No, there is nothing wrong with a ministry providing these things and using them to further the ministry, which Dr. Hovind no doubt did. There is plenty of evidence that Dr. Kent Hovind was/is passionate about his ministry and put all donated money back into the ministry even if in the form of transportation and shelter. As to the accusation of loaning $50,000. I don’t know if that’s true. However, Is it illegal for a ministry to loan money? This should be headline news! (many pastors could be convicted for their church loaning money to missionaries for large purchases. i.e. vehicle, land).
Fact: The First Amendment must be disregarded to justify what is happening to Dr. Kent Hovind. Abolish income tax and replace it with a consumption tax and this will no longer be an issue for anyone. It’s about freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Plain and simple. http://www.FairTax.org
“Besides, If the ministry owed taxes then don’t claim it is Hovind that owes taxes and don’t claim that the ministry can be tax exempt but the “owner” of the ministry must pay personal income tax on the ministry. If a ministry can be taxed than the First Amendment means nothing. “
The ministry could not be taxed because it had no corporeal identity, a concept which you seem to have great difficulty understanding.
“Fact: Dr. Kent Hovind had taken a LEGAL vow of poverty. He owned nothing and owed nothing.”
Then who owned the properties? And don’t say “the ministry” because that is a meaningless concept under the pseudo-legalistic structure Kent tried to erect in the hope that it would assist him in avoiding taxes. Kent also called his ministry “a church” despite he and his family attending another church.
“As to the accusation of loaning $50,000. I don’t know if that’s true.”
Then read the trial transcript.
“However, Is it illegal for a ministry to loan money? This should be headline news! (many pastors could be convicted for their church loaning money to missionaries for large purchases. i.e. vehicle, land). “
I very much doubt that churches loan money to missionaries who, by the nature of their work, would have no means of repaying them. It would be a breach of trust to lend money with no security for repayment. In any event, the “ministry” did not loan Eric the money but Kent and Jo from their own undeclared funds and to whom Eric is repaying his loan from monies he earns running his 501(c)(3) book and dvd company.
“Abolish income tax and replace it with a consumption tax and this will no longer be an issue for anyone.”
It wouldn’t be so much an issue for wealthy people who would love it but it would for you if you spend most of your income on current living expenditures.
A few of the hidden yet “SIMPLEST FACTS ABOUT KENT’S CASE” and the Hovind Haters (as revealed by Samphire) Part 2
Fact: John David Roy Atchison, who vigorously pursued a federal indictment against Hovind, committed suicide by hanging himself in his prison cell.
On September 16, 2007, Atchison was arrested at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in a sex crime sting operation undertaken by the Macomb County Sheriff's department.[5] He was charged with "enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity using the Internet", "aggravated sexual abuse" and "traveling across state lines to have sex with someone under the age of 12".[5] At the time of his arrest, he was carrying presents for his intended victim, including a doll and a pair of earrings. Also in his possession was a jar of petroleum jelly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_David_Roy_Atchison
Why don’t you take the trouble to read the trial transcript in which you will find full details of Kent spending many years abusing the legal process and trying to make life hell for those who were simply doing their job.
"“By the way, count 58 (as best I can tell in their clear as mud wording), is for praying for the IRS agent who hung himself (before he hung himself of course).”
You really are a disgusting person."
I believe I’m wrong about the agent Dr. Hovind prayed for (I don’t remember the other agents name). Maybe he should have prayed for this man too. Nonetheless, it’s Samphire’s opinion that I’m disgusting but I contend that what this man did was disgusting and revealing of why he had such hatred for Dr. Kent Hovind.
Fact: The court did in fact take issue because of a “prayer.” A prayer folks!
Samphire April 8, 2015 at 5:15 AM
"The court took little note of Kent’s childish voodoo imprecations other than it demonstrated his entire philosophical outlook on tax matters.”
Nuff said!
The anonymous whiner continues the Hovind Narrative with the following common claim:
– "John David Roy Atchison, who vigorously pursued
– a federal indictment against Hovind…
What is the record, and where, that reveals what involvement Atchison had in the Hovind case?
There seems to be some dispute as to his involvement therein.
Instead of making ipse dixit claims about what he had to do with the Hovind case, it would be much better to document his apparently very limited involvement.
For instance, where is the evidence, the documentation, regarding Atchison's activities involving the "pursuit of the federal indictment"?
Not that it matters, but since the Hovindicators think it worthy of note, where are the details documented.
I say it doesn't matter, because Kent was properly investigated, properly charged/indicted, properly tried, properly convicted, and properly sentenced.
“Fact: John David Roy Atchison, who vigorously pursued a federal indictment against Hovind, committed suicide by hanging himself in his prison cell.”
Completely irrelevant. It wasn’t Aitchison on trial. Are you suggesting that had Kent got away with his tax crimes Aitchison should also have been found not guilty of his crimes had he lived to be tried? That is the illogic of your argument.
“I believe I’m wrong about the agent Dr. Hovind prayed for (I don’t remember the other agents name). Maybe he should have prayed for this man too. Nonetheless, it’s Samphire’s opinion that I’m disgusting but I contend that what this man did was disgusting and revealing of why he had such hatred for Dr. Kent Hovind. “
He didn’t have hatred for Kent. He was doing the professional job he was paid to do which was to ensure that people paid their taxes. Doubtless you pay your taxes so why give Kent a tax-free ride to amass a $1m property portfolio? It is you and your husband who rant and rave in the most appalling and hateful manner at the various officials employed to ensure the law is observed and, indeed, even at your own president..
“Fact: The court did in fact take issue because of a “prayer.” A prayer folks!”
Wrong as usual, Erin. The prosecution did not make much of the prayer issue in setting out its case. It was Kent’s own attorney Richey who stupidly insisted on raising the issue which allowed Schneider to give evidence as following:
“BY MR. RICHEY:
Q. So Dr. Hovind praying that God — praying to God, you took that as a threat?
A. No, sir.
Q. Just when it had to do with you, him praying about you?
A. Sir, he was making statements that basically were saying that he was fine if something happened to us and that somebody — and he was talking to the general public, making a statement that I think is very reasonable to assume that in the context of everything that was seen, the numerous weapons, the TEC-9 machine pistol, the SKS sub machine gun, the pistols, and weapons that he refused to disclose when we were there, the threats on the radio, his comments to me personally, the veiled threats — I considered them veiled threats in person — and I believe all those things led me to believe that all of them were in a threatening context. So I think that's reasonable for me to believe at the time and because of that it was reported as such to our internal affairs office, TIGTA.”
Nuff said!
A few of the hidden yet “SIMPLEST FACTS ABOUT KENT’S CASE” and the Hovind Haters (as revealed by Samphire) Part 3
Fact: Dr. Kent Hovind did not avoid the IRS but spent much time communicating with the IRS to make sure he was within legal perimeters of the tax code (which is approximately 74,000 pages. Google it.)
Samphire April 8, 2015 at 5:15 AM
"Why don’t you take the trouble to read the trial transcript in which you will find full details of Kent spending many years abusing the legal process and trying to make life hell for those who were simply doing their job.”
It is "their job.” The only actual “service” the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides (or should) is to answer the citizens questions conceding the extremely large tax code.
Fact: Income tax should be abolished and replaced with a consumption tax (www.FairTax.org) and those who have misused the law to imprison innocent citizens should be held accountable. (This is a “really nasty trait"?)
Samphire April 8, 2015 at 5:15 AM
"It’s a really nasty trait in Kent (which you and Rudy have enthusiastically and readily adopted) that, while amassing a $1m property portfolio out of undeclared income, he sought (and still seeks) to have these honest and patriotic American citizens put out of work and into jail."
Fact: The Hovind Haters believe “Vengeance is the IRS’ and they will repay!” (How dare they have to answer the questions of a peasant?
Samphire April 8, 2015 at 5:15 AM
"It was for this vicious time-wasting and bullying mania Kent had for the IRS and the legal system that he received a penalty in the form of 3 years extra jail time, luckily for him, running concurrently with the other terms."
Fact: Hovind Haters SMART, “Hovindicators” Stupid (So, they attest)
Samphire April 8, 2015 at 5:15 AM
"You are so consumed by your extreme religious delusions that you are incapable of understanding even the simplest of facts about Kent’s case."
“Fact: Dr. Kent Hovind did not avoid the IRS but spent much time communicating with the IRS to make sure he was within legal perimeters of the tax code (which is approximately 74,000 pages. Google it.) “
Kent had a copy of the code sitting on his mantelpiece next to his desk. The relevant sections are a couple of dozen pages and it was only those pages by his own admission which Kent studied in any depth. He studied them over a period of years and consulted with Glen Stoll in hundreds of hours of telephone conversations and Stoll admitted that the advice he was giving to Kent went against that of the vast majority of tax lawyers. Kent does not get a free ride for his wilful preference for tax-denier opinions.
“It is "their job.” The only actual “service” the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides (or should) is to answer the citizens questions conceding the extremely large tax code. “
It was clearly evident from the nature of the correspondence that Kent was not seeking clarity. He was being deliberately obstructive and boasted of it even to those experts who advised him correctly and whose advice he wilfully ignored. He’s still doing it.
“Fact: The Hovind Haters believe “Vengeance is the IRS’ and they will repay!” (How dare they have to answer the questions of a peasant? “
Do you honestly believe for one moment that Kent was genuinely seeking clarification from the IRS, clarification which he could have got in 24 hours from any one of dozens of law firms in Pensacola? If you do then why did Kent boast to many people that he had got the IRS beat?
“Fact: Hovind Haters SMART, “Hovindicators” Stupid (So, they attest)”
Hovindicators chew the bones and spit out the meat.
The anonymous whiner wrote, in part:
– "Income tax should be abolished…"
That's not relevant to Kent Hovind's legal problems unless Kent wants to repent and admit to his criminal evasion history and claim it was part of his civil disobedience.
However, Kent hasn't taken that more honorable route.
Kent falsely claims he didn't owe, doesn't owe any tax(es).
Kent falsely claims he was not criminal in his actions regarding such things.
God, Erin. You're thick. Hovind had a right to appeal all the way up to the Supreme Court. He did not not not not bot have a right for them to hear his appeal. They informally reviewed the case, determined there was no case in controversy to be addressed and turned it down. Just as most birther cases got shot down. Your ignorance makes you an easy mark for Hovind but you and he have no case. And his peevious case is all over, unappealable. Nothing left but for Kent to finish ser ing the remaining 20 months approximately he has left on that sentence since he couldn't quit breaking the law in jail…and he'll pay further in new jail time for continuing his incorrigible felonious behavior. Wake up, sweety.
Further, I can't believe you Protestant believers even believe the claim of a "Vow of Poverty" out of Hovind. There's no such thing for him. It's a Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, maybe even cult thing but not Baptist. They also usually take vows of chastity, modesty, obedience, etc. Think ol' Kent's a virgin?
He was an older married guy with wife and kids to support. Did it become his ministry's job to take care of his family? Did his wife and kids take these vows?
The VOP garbage was and is a scam–a sovcit tax-scoffer scam that he thought could get him out of taxes. Yet he was in charge of his money at all times, didn't have to get permission to spend it on school for his kids, clothing for everybody, more land or vehicles, tools for the "ministry", etc., etc., etc.
You're being scammed you simpletons. And you're supporting him in the best way he can in his current incarcerated condition whilst we taxpayers pay for his room and board. Vow of poverty, my ass. How can you let this guy pizz on your leg and claim the Lord sent a rain cloud?
Personally I question Mr. Hovind's sanity. I have a friend who is a Hovind fanatic. The fact is that he never graduated high school and has no college degree. He is simply too lazy and too stubborn to actually get an education. Besides, he already knows the truth. The Bible has given it to him. I wish he had been willing to get an education. He and those like him find it easier to get answers from a lunatic than to get an education. They are not willing to put forth the effort to actually get a degree in biology. They do not understand what they claim to hate. Actually, if I wanted to discredit Christianity, which I do not, Hovind and his ilk would be my greatest asset. The majority of Christians find no contradiction in their belief in Jesus Christ and a belief in evolution. The Theory of Evolution is the only scientific theory to address man's origins. While that may not make it true, there is nothing else to challenge it. How about the THEORY of Gravity? Maybe Mr. Hovind and his followers would like to throw themselves off of a cliff. After all it is just a THEORY. How about the Germ Theory for the transmission of diseases? Maybe along with the Germ Theory we should also teach in science class that those practicing witchcraft are the real cause of most illness. That is out of fairness. After all, the Germ Theory is JUST a theory. It hasn't been proven. I am sickened by Mr. Hovind, Ken Hamm, Ray Comfort and those who do not realize the Bible was written by men who were members of a primitive culture. If there is truly a God, are you telling me the He couldn't produce anything any better than one of the hundreds of translations of the bible? I refer to God as He out of tradition. Sex has to do with biological reproduction. So, God could neither be identified as male or female. I think a diety would be capable of writing a more coherent and convincing book.
That's why God sent angels to dictate the Koran to Mohammed and put the Book of Moromon on gold plates to avoid all those translation and transcription problems.
I think Thomas Jefferson put it very well when talking about the bible. He said something to the effect that with the bible you have to be able to find the diamonds amongst the dung. Well a lot of good it did for God to send angels to dictate the Koran to Mohammed. A religion of continual war and intollerance was created. Any time you get fanatics that are required to suspend their critical thinking you are in trouble. Is it possiblethat if God really did author a Holy Book that we as humans would be incapable of understanding it. If such a book were to exist, we humans would corrupt and misunderstand it. As the line goes in Monty Pythons In Search of the Holy Grail, "Blessed Be the Cheese Makers!"