Free Kent Hovind Movement Has Big Win
The question though is whether Hovind’s conduct –particularly, the filing of the lis pendens–was clearly prohibited by the Forfeiture Order. The Forfeiture Order does not specifically prohibit Hovind from filing lis pendens against the forfeited properties; indeed, the Order does not prohibit any conduct at all. Instead, it simply forfeited the real property in partial substitution for the money forfeiture judgment.The Government has not cited any authority for the proposition that Hovind can be guilty of contempt for interfering with or evading an Order that did not speak directly to his conduct. Thus, the guilty verdict on Count Three cannot stand,
Kent Hovind Remains In Custody – Judge Would Have Ruled Against Motion To Dismiss
People who have been following the Kent Hovind trial were taken by surprise this weekend as the federal government moved to drop, without prejudice, the remaining charges against Hovind and Hansen (In March they were convicted on charges of contempt of court, but the jury did not reach a verdict on more serious fraud and conspiracy charges. Jury selection for retrial on those charges was scheduled to begin this morning.)
More or less at the eleventh hour, the United States Justice Foundation assisted Hovind’s attorney Thomas Keith and Hansen, who is pro se on this round, in submitting a motion to have the charges dropped. The United States requested a continuance to respond to the motion. Judge Rodgers indicated that she was not inclined to grant a continuance and scheduled oral arguments on the motions this morning with jury selection to follow, if the motions were not allowed. Then came the big surprise. The United States moved to dismiss the remaining charges without prejudice. (Meaning, as I understand it, that the charges can be refiled).
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Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.