'Mrs. Dino' gets prison

[Rufus_1611]

'Mrs. Dino' gets prison

Jo Hovind, the wife of creationist theme-park owner Kent Hovind, stood solemnly beside her attorney Friday as U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers handed down a sentence of one year and one day in federal prison.

Jo Hovind, 51, also was ordered to pay $8,000 in fines and three years supervision when she is released from prison.

Hovind was found guilty in November on 45 counts of evading bank-reporting requirements. The same jury found her husband guilty on 58 federal counts, including failure to pay $845,000 in employee-related taxes. He was sentenced in January to 10 years in federal prison.

Jo Hovind’s attorney, Jerry Barringer, said after the sentencing that he plans to file an appeal against the guilty verdict as well as the prison sentence.

Please pray for Mrs. Hovind.

 

[abcgrad94]

What prison are they sending her to? :tear:

 

[Rufus_1611]

Jo Hovind’s Sentence “Enhanced”
By Patricia Stegman (sorry no linkie)

Jo Hovind, the wife of Creation Science Evangelist Dr. Kent Hovind, was sentenced on Friday, June 29, to a year and a day in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Casey Rodgers after being convicted on 45 counts of what the government called "evading bank-reporting requirements." She was also ordered to pay $8,000 in fines, and was given 3 years supervised probation when her prison term is up. She remains free on her own recognizance and is expected to begin serving her prison sentence on Aug. 31.

Banks are required to report deposits of $10,000 or more. Mrs. Hovind was convicted for making deposits of less than $10,000 (some were several thousand dollars less than the stated limit). As we said in the previous issue of the Trumpet, the so-called "crime" of "structuring" in the Hovind case is like driving 70 instead of 71, and still getting a ticket for breaking the law, because the patrolman says that you were trying to cheat the state out of the money you would have paid for the fine if you had been speeding. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

Although sentencing guidelines called for a 0-6 month sentence, the prosecution recently petitioned the judge to give Mrs. Hovind an "enhanced" sentence of up to 10 years. While Judge Rogers didn't go that far – “merely” doubling the recommended sentence - she did tell Mrs. Hovind that she was giving her extra time because she considers her a "tax protestor."

The Hovinds were investigated by the IRS and charged with failing to pay FICA (Social Security) and other withholding taxes on staff members who worked for their Creation Science Museum. The Hovinds characterized the staff as "ministers," making the payment of any applicable taxes the responsibility of the individual – and in fact, the evidence showed that staff members had all paid their own taxes. But despite that, the IRS insisted they were "employees" and thus subject to tax withholding and reporting by the Hovinds. Dr. Kent Hovind was convicted in November 2006 of 58 federal counts and is serving a 10-year sentence, in addition to a $1 million fine. Rogers also ordered the forfeiture of the Hovinds' properties, including the Pensacola property where their theme park, Dinosaur Adventure Land, is located.

Since his original incarceration in a Florida jail, Dr. Hovind has since been moved 5 times and is currently over 500 miles away from home in a South Carolina facility. He has been kept in solitary confinement on several occasions, supposedly "for his own protection," although he disputes that allegation.

Both the Hovinds are appealing their verdicts as well as their sentences. Mrs. Hovind wrote a poignant email on the eve of her sentencing:

I wish that "Faith for deliverance" reflects what I truly believe about faith. However, it does not. Faith only for deliverance is not faith at all. True Faith means that whether I am delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is in control. Unfortunately, some things are best learned in a fiery furnace. I don't like the furnace. My human emotions say that I will be consumed by a furnace like that. But God offered to give me strength to live by faith each day when he said in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." George Muller once said, "Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends." For me, my power in all of this, ended a long time ago. I am trusting God to work through the attorneys in ways that will astonish even them. I am asking God to spare me if possible from going to prison. If He chooses not to do this, I am praying for His mercy to carry me through.​

..........

 

[go2church]

Looks like they got bad advice and tried to skirt the law, too bad for them, the IRS is fairly specific about what is and what isn't a minister.

So I guess the "museum" is closing?

 

[Rufus_1611]

Looks like they got bad advice and tried to skirt the law, too bad for them, the IRS is fairly specific about what is and what isn't a minister.

So I guess the "museum" is closing?

This thread is about Jo Hovind and she was not accused of the defining of a minister issue as you suggest.

The "museum" will likely close as the United States Government will own property that is used for preaching Creation science according to the Bible. Since the government is opposed to Jesus Christ, I doubt they will continue to operate the facility and they will likely sell it.

 

[abcgrad94]

Thanks for the update, Rufus. I wonder how many wives of crooked politicians should be in prison who aren't, hmm? Yet heaven help a Christian wife who submits to her husband. Ironic. Anyway, I'll be praying.

 

[Rufus_1611]

Thanks for the update, Rufus. I wonder how many wives of crooked politicians should be in prison who aren't, hmm? Yet heaven help a Christian wife who submits to her husband. Ironic. Anyway, I'll be praying.

Thank you for those points and prayer for this dear Christian woman. I pray Christians are noticing and considering the "enhanced sentencing" stuff. When she committed these "crimes" under the guidelines set-up on the date of the infractions she would've received 6 months max. New sentencing guidelines were implemented post-infraction, and the prosecution(wanted 10 years!) and the judge (settled on 1) didn't think that 6 months would be long enough to properly punish/rehabilitate one of the worst criminals in the world...someone the judge considers to be a "tax protestor". In today's world you can be found guilty of perjury, and obstruction of justice and spend 0 time in jail. Take cash out of your account in amounts the government doesn't approve of or without filling out the proper form...that'll get you one year in federal prison.

 

[Ex-Fundy]

Those two got what they deserved, they broke the law, now they're in jail. Please, stop trying to make them into saints.

may they BOTH rot in jail.

 

[Rufus_1611]

Those two got what they deserved, they broke the law, now they're in jail. Please, stop trying to make them into saints.

may they BOTH rot in jail.

Will you be praying that she "rots" well then?

 

[just-want-peace]

Those two got what they deserved, they broke the law, now they're in jail. Please, stop trying to make them into saints.

may they BOTH rot in jail.

WOW!!!! No wonder the world holds Christianity in such "high esteem"!!! (Sarcasm - just in case you missed it )

With a friend like Ex Fundy, one sure has no need of enemies!

 

[Analgesic]

Nah, I think the Hovinds did enough for Christianity's esteem on their own.

 

[webdog]

Thanks for the update, Rufus. I wonder how many wives of crooked politicians should be in prison who aren't, hmm? Yet heaven help a Christian wife who submits to her husband. Ironic. Anyway, I'll be praying.

nowhere are women told to submit to their husbands when breaking the law. Should she have "submitted" to her husband if he was involved in serial killings?:BangHead:

 

[Rufus_1611]

Nah, I think the Hovinds did enough for Christianity's esteem on their own.

What do you believe Jo Hovind did wrong?

 

[PastorSBC1303]

Those two got what they deserved, they broke the law, now they're in jail. Please, stop trying to make them into saints.

may they BOTH rot in jail.

Are you sure you are an Ex-Fundy? :saint: :tonofbricks:

 

[Rufus_1611]

nowhere are women told to submit to their husbands when breaking the law. Should she have "submitted" to her husband if he was involved in serial killings?:BangHead:

Again, this thread is NOT about Kent Hovind and if it were, Kent is not a serial killer. He was charged with a paper crime.

Jo Hovind was not convicted for submitting to her husband.

 

[Analgesic]

What do you believe Jo Hovind did wrong?

Married Kent!! :laugh:

 

[Rufus_1611]

Married Kent!! :laugh:

One year in jail for marrying Kent?

 

[abcgrad94]

nowhere are women told to submit to their husbands when breaking the law. Should she have "submitted" to her husband if he was involved in serial killings?:BangHead:

From the article I read, I can't see what exactly she did wrong. The article said she was a "tax protester." What was HER crime? Obviously if she disobeyed the law, she should be punished, but it looks to me like she's being punished for her husband's wrongdoing, not her own.

If my husband asked me to go to the bank and make some deposits, I'd do it without asking all the possible legal scenarios behind it, because I trust his judgement. Perhaps Mrs. Hovind was simply decieved? If so, her sentence should have been much lighter.

 

[Rufus_1611]

From the article I read, I can't see what exactly she did wrong. The article said she was a "tax protester." What was HER crime? Obviously if she disobeyed the law, she should be punished, but it looks to me like she's being punished for her husband's wrongdoing, not her own.

If my husband asked me to go to the bank and make some deposits, I'd do it without asking all the possible legal scenarios behind it, because I trust his judgement. Perhaps Mrs. Hovind was simply decieved? If so, her sentence should have been much lighter.

Thank you...thank you for this post. You've given me hope. :thumbs:

 

[Analgesic]

One year in jail for marrying Kent?

You're right, that does seem a bit low...