[asa] Judicial "Astroid" Hits "Dr Dino"

From NCSE:

KENT HOVIND SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS

Kent Hovind, the evangelist who styles himself "Dr. Dino" and runs the
Creation Science Evangelism ministry as well as Dinosaur Adventure Land,
a small creationist theme park in Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to
ten years in federal prison on January 19, 2007. In November 2006, a
federal jury found Hovind guilty of fifty-eight charges, including
failing to pay payroll taxes for his employees, structuring financial
transactions to avoid reporting requirements, and "corruptly
endeavor[ing] to obstruct and impede the due administration of the
internal revenue laws" in a number of ways. He was detained in jail
until his sentencing, although his wife Jo Hovind, who was found guilty
of forty-four charges, was allowed to remain free.

At the sentencing, the Pensacola News-Journal (January 20, 2007)
reported, Hovind adopted a meek demeanor, telling the judge, "I stand
here in great fear of the power of this court. Your decision can destroy
my life, my ministry and my grandchildren." But recordings of his
telephone conversations from the jail, played in court, told a different
story: Hovind accused the Internal Revenue Service, the judge, and the
prosecutor of violating the law in prosecuting him, and referred to
unspecified things he could do "to make their lives miserable." In
handing down the sentence, the judge explained that Hovind's troubles
were due to his "refusing to accept what the law is." In addition to
ten years in prison and three years of probation, Hovind's sentence also
included paying over $600,000 in restitution to the IRS.

In "Earth to 'Dr. Dino': Please pay your taxes and start facing
reality," a columnist for the News-Journal (January 21, 2007) was
unsympathetic to Hovind's plight, writing, "You got caught, so quit
whining and take your punishment like a man." The column continued,
"Hovind is sniffling in court, dabbing tears from his eyes and comparing
himself to Jesus and Job. He urges the judge to let him go home rather
than do serious time for bilking the government. This same government
guarantees 'Dr. Dino' freedom of religion and freedom of speech so he
can denounce the theory of evolution, promote 'creation science' -- an
oxymoron to many -- and operate Dinosaur Adventure Land and Creation
Science Evangelism." The columnist was more sympathetic to Jo Hovind,
who is due to be sentenced on March 1, 2007.

For the Pensacola News-Journal's story, visit:
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/
NEWS01/701200319/1006

For the recordings played in court, visit:
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/
VIDEO/70119009/1006

For "Earth to 'Dr. Dino'" in the Pensacola News-Journal, visit:
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701210
332

Dick Fischer

Dick Fischer, Genesis Proclaimed Association

Finding Harmony in Bible, Science, and History

 <http://www.genesisproclaimed.org> www.genesisproclaimed.org

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Received on Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:25:23 -0500