SLOWSTORM Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Quote from local paper"Pensacola evangelist and tax protester Kent Hovind winked at his wife and gave her a reassuring smile as he was led away to jail. Jo Hovind clutched the necktie he had been wearing. She kept her eyes on her husband until he was out of sight. A 12-person jury deliberated for 2ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâý hours on Thursday before finding the couple guilty of all counts in their tax-fraud case. Kent Hovind, founder of Creation Science Evangelism and Dinosaur Adventure Land in Pensacola, was found guilty of 58 counts, including failure to pay $845,000 in employee-related taxes. He faces a maximum of 288 years in prison. Jo Hovind was charged and convicted in 44 of the counts involving evading bank-reporting requirements. She faces up to 225 years in prison but was allowed to remain free pending the couple's sentencing on Jan. 9. Kent Hovind briefly held onto her arm as the verdict was read. Neither reacted at first. But minutes later, she held her face in her hands. "Nobody likes to pay taxes," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer said in her closing argument. "But we do because it's the law, and he is not above the law." The jury also granted the prosecution's request for the Hovinds to forfeit $430,400. That amount equals the value of the checks signed and cashed by Jo Hovind in the 44 counts. U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers released Jo Hovind until sentencing but denied Kent Hovind's request to be released. He most likely will be detained at either Escambia County Jail or Santa Rosa County Jail until sentencing. Heldmyer said Kent Hovind was a flight risk and a "danger to the community." His attorney, Alan Richey, argued that the Internal Revenue Service pursued his client because of his religious beliefs. Kent Hovind, whose life's mission is to debunk evolution, says he and his employees are workers of God and therefore exempt from paying taxes. He pays his employees in cash and does not withhold their taxes or pay his share as an employer. "There's a difference between wrong and committing a crime," Richey said in his closing argument. "You can do all the wrong things you want and still not commit a crime." Jo Hovind's attorney, Jerold Barringer, argued that his client was a simple piano teacher and grandmother who was not aware of bank-reporting regulations concerning large amounts of cash. Any cash transaction at a bank more than $10,000 triggers a currency-transaction report forwarded to the IRS. She was found guilty of using several methods to take out just enough money to avoid triggering the report. The Hovinds and their attorneys declined comment. Their supporters, who took up most of the six rows in Rodgers' courtroom, dwindled in number as the day went on. Jo Hovind's son, Kent Andrew Hovind, and two women escorted her out of the U.S. District Courthouse in downtown Pensacola. Richard Hogan, an acquaintance of Kent Hovind who observed the last day of the two-week trial, said he felt especially bad for Jo Hovind. "He was the leader, and she probably went along with him," said Hogan, 53. He first met the Hovinds when their children were homeschooled. "It's pretty tough to fight Goliath," Hogan said. "The first time the IRS calls, you should go ahead and deal with it. It didn't have to come down to this." "-End Quote Wow, life in prison for messing with the IRS. Feel the power... :twisted: Next thing you know, you'll get life for mowing your lawn three times during a hurricane... wait...you already do. With no chance of parole. Feel better yet? :wall: Hey, at least we're not driving around with chickens on our heads while crossing borders anymore. Glad we got that one settled =; Keep up the fight, guys, we'll confuse them yet. :-s When you are learning, you are growing. If you stop learning, you stop growing. If you stop growing, you die. Train hard, eat fried chicken, and take a one-a-day. (And cook that broccoli 'til it's yella and pour cheese all over it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Necromagus Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Ehrm... how is this wrong? The guy repeatedly and openly flaunted his tax evasion. He broke the law, he was punished. This really doesn't have anything to do with state opression... My Tip.It Times Articles (10 and counting) || The Varrock Library Author Index projectDo you dare to dream? - Part 19 added. || The Hospital (WIP) - New story!Necromagus looks like a viking ... with glasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue107 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 288 years for tax evasion?............... 485th person to ever play RuneScapeBlue107- perm banned 10/12/2007. $300 USD reward if you can get me in contact with someone who will take 5 seconds to look at evidence and get my original character unbanned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak722 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 288 years for tax evasion?............... Thats what it says... :-k The Enrichment Center reminds you that the weighted companion cube will never threaten to stab you and, in fact, cannot speak. In the event that the weighted companion cube does speak, the Enrichment Center urges you to disregard its advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigra00 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Could he not just pay up, or was he already in crap for complete out-right fraud? Also, 288 years for doing nothing to harm anyone else = BS. Prison is a place for people who are dangerous to society, and I've heard of serial killers who got less time, lol. The popularity of any given religion today depends on the victories of the wars they fought in the past. - Me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak722 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Could he not just pay up, or was he already in crap for complete out-right fraud? Also, 288 years for doing nothing to harm anyone else = BS. Prison is a place for people who are dangerous to society, and I've heard of serial killers who got less time, lol. And Skilling got how much time in his sentence for his part on the Enron scandal? White collar crime hurts people in the long run. The Enrichment Center reminds you that the weighted companion cube will never threaten to stab you and, in fact, cannot speak. In the event that the weighted companion cube does speak, the Enrichment Center urges you to disregard its advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLOWSTORM Posted November 3, 2006 Author Share Posted November 3, 2006 Necromagus, I wasn't trying to build a case for state oppression, but was just trying to point out the silliness of it. 288 years for small-time tax fraud? It wasn't even a million dollars, for crying out loud. The real shame is that this guy actually had a reputation for being a decent guy and helping out regular people. He was no Enron-type. When you are learning, you are growing. If you stop learning, you stop growing. If you stop growing, you die. Train hard, eat fried chicken, and take a one-a-day. (And cook that broccoli 'til it's yella and pour cheese all over it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak722 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 Well he may not be the Enron type, but thing is, he was found guilty of 58 counts of failure to pay taxes... It piles up... If you get charged with 10 counts of murder, and you were found guilty, then that could mean you have to spend 10 lifetimes in jail... Well of course you'd be dead probably even in half a lifetime, but the sentence still counts... Which is very unfortunate for him... :( The Enrichment Center reminds you that the weighted companion cube will never threaten to stab you and, in fact, cannot speak. In the event that the weighted companion cube does speak, the Enrichment Center urges you to disregard its advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLOWSTORM Posted November 3, 2006 Author Share Posted November 3, 2006 True that. His defense setup kinda stunk from what I read, though. He needed a better one than, "I didn't know." But then, the judge issued... what... 6 gag orders on his lawyers when they were trying to cross-examine? This is not the kind of guy that we need to be paying our tax money to keep off the streets. Give him community service, or something, is what I'd say. Oh, well. I'm not the judge :( When you are learning, you are growing. If you stop learning, you stop growing. If you stop growing, you die. Train hard, eat fried chicken, and take a one-a-day. (And cook that broccoli 'til it's yella and pour cheese all over it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkmage099 Posted November 3, 2006 Share Posted November 3, 2006 You can counterfeit 2 million+ pounds and still get out of jail alive...wth. Trix.--quit WoW as of 12/07Thank you 4be2jue for the wonderful sig and avatar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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