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| date_of_death =
| place_of_death =
| residence = [[Pensacola Wikipedia:Federal Prison CampCorrectional Institution, Edgefield|Federal Correctional Institution]]
| occupation = Evangelist
| spouse = [[Jo Hovind]]
| children = Kent Andrew Hovind, [[Eric Hovind]], Marlissa Jewell
}}
'''Kent E. Hovind ''' (born [[January 15]], [[1953]]) is an American evangelist and prominent Young Earth creationist who is serving a ten-year term in U.S. federal prison for 58 tax offenses, obstructing federal agents and related charges. He goes by the nickname '''Dr. Dino''' and established the [[Creation Science Evangelism Ministry]] in 1989 <ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist's trial begins: Dinosaur Adventure Land owner, wife face 58 counts of tax fraud| publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= October 18, 2006 | first=Angela | last=Fail | accessdate = }}</ref> and, prior to his incarceration, spoke frequently in private schools, churches, university debates and on radio and television broadcasts arguing for young earth creationism. Hovind is currently incarcerated at the [[Pensacola Wikipedia:Federal Correctional Institution, Edgefield|Federal Prison Camp]] at [[Saufley FieldCorrectional Institution]], South Carolina.<ref>[http://www.bopcseblogs.gov/iloc2com/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=Hovind&Middle=&FirstName=Kent&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=19&yp=75 CSE Blog, "UPDATE," June 12], 2007.</ref>
== Biography ==
==Creation Science Evangelism Ministry==
:''Main article: [[Creation Science Evangelism Ministry]]''
After receiving his first correspondence education degree, Hovind started [[Creation Science Evangelism Ministry]] in [[1989]]. The ministry aims to evangelize people by teaching them a creationist perspective. Hovind reportedly earns $50,000 a year with speaking engagements and, in 2002 alone, the ministry sold more than $1.8 million in Christian merchandise.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=IRS agent testifies in Hovind trial, Case could go to jury Thursday | publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= October 31, 2006 | first=Nicole | last=Lozare | accessdate = }}</ref> This ministry does not have the proper licensing nor is it registered as a nonprofit, which resulted in legal troubles mentioned below.
==Dinosaur Adventure Land==
In [[2001]] Hovind started [[Dinosaur Adventure Land]], a young earth creationist theme park on [[Old Palafox Street]] near [[Pensacola Christian Academy]], behind Hovind's home. The park depicts humans and dinosaurs co-existing in the last 4,000-6,000 years and also contains a depiction of the Loch Ness monster. The park does not explore "the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras," but rather "depicts dinosaurs as coexisting with human beings."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.momentmag.com/features/oct05/slifkin.html | title=The Heresy of Nosson Slifkin| publisher=Moment Magazine | date= | first=Jennie | last=Rothenberg | accessdate = 2007-01-10}}</ref> In 2004 the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry visited Hovind's dinosaur theme park and claimed the "park" is deceptive and purposely misleads visitors.<ref name="CSICOP">{{cite news | url=http://www.csicop.org/si/2004-11/hovind.html | title=A Journey to Hovind's Dinosaur Adventure Land| publisher=Skeptical Inquirer | date= November 2004 | first=Greg| last=Martinez | accessdate = 2006-10-19}}</ref> The Southern Poverty Law Center noted the park also "claims that a few small dinosaurs still roam the planet."<ref name="SPLCenter2004">{{cite news | url=http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=485 | title=When Giants Roamed: A Florida theme park sells creationism — with an antigovernment twist| publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center | date= Summer 2004 | first=Camille| last=Jackson | accessdate = 2006-10-19}}</ref> The venture has encountered legal issues, as the owners failed to acquire a building permit for the park (see below).
According to the IRS, Hovind's theme park and merchandise sales earned more than $5 million from 1999 to March 2004.<ref name="begins">{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist's trial begins: Dinosaur Adventure Land owner, wife face 58 counts of tax fraud| publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= October 18, 2006 | first=Angela | last=Fail | accessdate = }}</ref> About half that income went to employees who were salaried or were paid hourly wages that worked set hours and signed up for vacations and sick leave. The government believes that grew to the point of earning $2 million a year.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Hard to believe a man with a Ph.D didn't know of a basic tax law | publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= November 3, 2006 | first=Mark | last=O'Brien | accessdate = 2006-11-03}}</ref>
== Legal problems ==
=== Property taxes and zoning ordinance ===
Hovind was charged on [[September 13]], [[2002]], for failure to observe county zoning regulations with respect to Dinosaur Adventure Land.<ref name="CSICOP" /> Despite arguments that the owners did not need a permit due to the nature of the building, the park has been found in violation of local regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url= |date=[[2006-04-07]]|publisher=Pensacola News Journal|last=Rabb|first=William|title=Park could face extinction: Lack of building permits closes dinosaur museum}}</ref> On [[June 5]], [[2006]], Hovind pled ''[[nolo contendere]]'' as charged to three counts: constructing a building without a permit, refusing to sign a citation (Case # 2001 MM 023489 A)<ref>Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court [http://205.152.130.14/cv_web_1b.asp?ucase_id=62294168 Courtviewer Records Search of Kent Hovind] Case #2001 MM 023489 A</ref> and violating the county building code (Case # 2002 MM 026670 A).<ref>Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court [http://205.152.130.14/cv_web_1b.asp?ucase_id=31271238 Courtviewer Records Search of Kent Hovind] Case #2002 MM 026670 A</ref> Hovind was ordered to pay $225.00 per count. The plea brought to an end the 5-year criminal (misdemeanor) court battle over a $50.00 building permit. In June 2006 Hovind complied with the county law (Case # 2001 MM 023489 A).<ref>Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court [http://205.152.130.14/cv_web_1b.asp?ucase_id=62294168 Courtviewer Records Search of Kent Hovind] 2001 MM 023489 A</ref> Hovind estimates he spent $40,000 in legal expenses on this case. On [[June 19]], [[2006]], the delinquent 2003-2005 property taxes/penalties for Dinosaur Adventure Land were paid in the amount of $10,402.64.
===Federal civil tax matters, bankruptcy, and renouncing citizenship===
Hovind's Creation Science Evangelism ministry is not listed as a tax-exempt Code Section 501(c)(3) charitable, educational or religious organization by the Internal Revenue Service<ref>[http://apps.irs.gov/app/pub78 irs.gov] Search for Charities</ref> nor is it considered a church by people who work there.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Workers testify in 'Dr. Dino' trial| publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= October 19, 2006 | first=Amy| last=Sowder | accessdate = 2006-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist's trial begins: Dinosaur Adventure Land owner, wife face 58 counts of tax fraud| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= October 18, 2006 | first=Angela | last=Fail | accessdate = 2006-10-18}}</ref> Instead, Hovind's various educational and religious activities are run through an organizational structure which, according to the United States Tax Court, appears to be "based on various questionable trust documents purchased from Glen Stoll, a known promoter of tax avoidance schemes."<ref name="TCM2006-143" /> The Tax Court has concluded that Hovind used these trust documents as well as other fraudulent means to conceal the ownership and control of his activities and properties.<ref name="TCM2006-143" />
Hovind was originally reported to the IRS by [[Pensacola Christian College]] senior vice president [[Rebekah Horton]] in the mid 1990s, after she learned of Hovind's anti-tax stand. "'We know the Scriptures do not promote (tax evasion),'" Horton said in testimony against Hovind during his 2006 trial, "'It's against Scripture teaching'.... Horton believed it was the college's duty to report the misleading doctrine. 'I didn't want to see innocent people get led astray,' she said. Pensacola Christian College then decided its students no longer were permitted to work with Creation Science Evangelism".<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Christian College leader says taxes are part of religion: Hovind argues God's workers are exempt| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= October 20, 2006 | first=Angela| last=Fail | accessdate =}}</ref>
===Federal criminal tax-related convictions in 2006===
On [[July 11]], [[2006]], Hovind was charged in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida]] in Pensacola with twelve counts of willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over Federal income taxes and FICA taxes under {{usc|26|7202}}, forty-five counts of knowingly structuring transactions in Federally-insured financial institutions to evade the reporting requirements of {{usc|31|5313(a)}}, in violation of {{usc|31|5324}}, {{usc|18|2}} and 31 C.F.R. sec. 103.11, and one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws under {{usc|26|7212}}.<ref>Indictment, ''United States of America v. Kent E. Hovind and Jo D. Hovind'', U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, case no. 3:06CR83/MCR (dated July 11, 2006; filed at 12:55 pm, July 11, 2006) (hereinafter "Indictment").</ref><ref name="arrested">{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist arrested on federal charges | publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= 14 July 2006| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = }}</ref> Twelve of the charges were for failing to pay employee-related taxes, totaling $473,818, and 45 of the charges were for evading reporting requirements by making multiple cash withdrawals just under the $10,000 reporting requirement (a technique known as "smurfing"). The withdrawals, totaling $430,500, were made in 2001 and 2002.<ref name="arrested" />
The government charged that Hovind falsely listed the IRS as his only creditor in his bankruptcy, filed a false and frivolous lawsuit against the IRS in which he demanded damages for criminal trespass, made threats of harm to those investigating him and to those who might consider cooperating with the investigation, filed a false complaint against IRS agents investigating him, filed a false criminal complaint against IRS special agents (criminal investigators), and destroyed records.<ref>Indictment, page 8 (July 11, 2006).</ref>
At the time of the arrest, Magistrate Davis, "over Kent Hovind's protests[,] ... took away his passport and [the] guns Hovind claimed belonged to his church...." Hovind argued that he needed his passport to continue his evangelism work. He said "thousands and thousands" were waiting to hear him preach in South Africa the following month. But Davis sided with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer, who argued that "like-minded people" might secret Hovind away if he left the country. In relation to the guns, Davis said "ownership was not the issue.".<ref name="arrested" /> Because of reports of weapons on the Hovind property, the indictment was originally sealed for fear that "the arrest of the defendants in this case could pose some danger to agents."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2006/FL/470_kent_hovind_arrested_on_federa_7_14_2006.asp | title=Kent Hovind arrested on federal charges | publisher=National Center for Science Education | date= July 14, 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-10-18}}</ref> More than a half-dozen guns were seized at the Hovind's home, including an SKS semiautomatic rifle.<ref name="detailedactions">{{cite news|url= |title=Lawyer: Hovind detailed actions: Evangelist said he 'beat the system' |author=Michael Stewart |pub=Pensacola News Journal |date= 21 October 2006 |accessdate = 2006-10-26}}</ref> Also "During an IRS raid at the home, agents found cash stashed 'all over the place.' About $42,000 was seized."<ref name="detailedactions" />
It was revealed during the trial that Jo Hovind had requested financial assistance from [[Baptist Healthcare]] claiming that the Hovinds had no income. "'Dr. and Mrs. Kent Hovind do not earn salaries,' wrote [[Martha Harris]], the trust secretary of Creation Science Evangelism to Baptist Healthcare. 'As health insurance is not provided for this couple, we would appreciate (financial assistance).'"<ref>[http://www.religionnewsblog.com/16426/kent-and-jo-hovind-deny-having-income Kent and Jo Hovind deny having income]</ref> However, continues the article "Kent Hovind, a tax protester, makes a substantial amount of money" [[Kent Hovind#Creation Science Evangelism Ministry|see above]]. "On the day the IRS searched the Hovind home, Kent Hovind withdrew $70,000 from the Creation Science Evangelism account. Half in a check; the other in cash.<ref>{{cite news | url=| title='Dr. Dino,' wife guilty | publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= November 2, 2006 | first=Nicole | last=Lozare | accessdate = }}</ref>
At the time of the indictment, Hovind's defense appeared to be that although there were 30 people working for him, all of whom received remuneration in cash, none of them were employees. According to Hovind, "Nobody's an employee, and they all know that when they come. They come, they work ... The laborer is worthy of his hire -- we try to take the purely scriptural approach. We do the best we can with helping people with their family needs. There are no employees here."<ref name = "noemp">{{cite news | url=http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/7/212006b.asp | title=Tax-Evasion Charges Baseless, Says Ministry Leader | publisher=AgapePress | date= July 21, 2006 | first=Jim | last=Brown | accessdate = 2006-12-18}}</ref> Hovind had also claimed that he was not liable for taxes that and his ministry did not have to "render unto Caesar" because his workers are "missionaries" not "employees".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wdcmedia.com/newsArticle.php?ID=1514 | title=Tax Evasion Charges Baseless Says Ministry Leader | publisher=WDC Media News | date= 7 July 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-10-18}}</ref>
Hovind's teary-eyed court room behavior was in stark contrast to phone calls he made while in jail.<ref name="Decade">{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/NEWS01/701200319/1006 | title=A decade for 'Dr. Dino'| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= 20 January 2006| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = 2007-01-20}}</ref> One conversation with Eric Hovind, Kent Hovind's son, showed the two plotted to hide a motor vehicle title and property deeds to prevent the government from collecting the property to pay for owed debt.<ref name="jailcalls">{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/VIDEO/70119009/1006 | title=Kent Hovind Jail Calls|publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date=January 21, 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-01-21}}</ref>
A [[February 28]], [[2007]] hearing was held so that the court could consider, among other things, certain contentions by Hovind regarding his convictions for structuring transactions (cash withdrawals from a bank) to evade currency reporting requirements. Hovind is contending that under the rule in a case called ''United States v. Davenport'',<ref>929 F.2d 1169 (7th Cir. 1991).</ref> the crime is not the individual withdrawals, but is instead the total transaction, also known as the "unit of the crime." Hovind is contending that in his case there was no "unit of the crime" "separate and distinct from the alleged act of withdrawing, and without such a separate amount to be structured [. . .] there could be no crime alleged, and no conviction on any charge in Counts 13 through 57."<ref>Motion [by defendant Jo D. Hovind] to Reconsider Order Denying Motion for Judgment of Acquittal, Jan. 26, 2007, docket entry 153, ''United States of America v. Kent E. Hovind'', case no. 3:06cr83-001/MCR, United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division.</ref> If the convictions on Counts 13 through 57 were to be thrown out (or, more specifically, if the conviction on count 57 alone were to be thrown out), and considering the remaining convictions on the other counts, the effect could be to reduce Hovind's prison sentence from ten years to five years. The parties are awaiting a court decision on this matter. On [[June 29]], [[2007]], Hovind's wife [[Jo Hovind|Jo]] was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/NEWS01/70629014/1006 | title='Mrs. Dino' gets prison| publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= June, 29, 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-06-29}}</ref>
==Controversial remarks==
=== Creationist but critical of Hovind ===
*[http://www.answersincreation.org/kent_hovind.htm Rebuttals to the works of Kent Hovind] by [[Answers In Creation]]* [http://www.christiangeology.com/dr_dino_debate.html Point-by-Point Rebuttal of Dr. Dino's Critique] of the "[[Gap Theory]]" of Genesis Creationism at Christian Geology website
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050313064211/http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/1011hovind.asp Maintaining Creationist Integrity: A response to Kent Hovind], by Answers in Genesis archived at web.archive.org.
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/news/ross_hovind_analysis.asp Ross–Hovind Debate, John Ankerberg Show, October 2000; Analysis] by Jonathan Sarfati of[Answers in Genesis.
*{{cite news | url= | title='Dr. Dino,' wife guilty | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= November 2, 2006 | first=Nicole | last=Lozare | accessdate = }}
*{{cite news | url= | title=Hard to believe a man with a Ph.D didn't know of a basic tax law | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= November 3, 2006 | first=Mark | last=O'Brien | accessdate = }}
*{{cite news | url=http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news-article.aspx?storyid=68460 | title=Pensacola Evangelist Who Founded Dinosaur Theme Park Convicted of Tax Fraud| publisher=[[First Coast News]] | date= 6 November 2006| first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-01-20}}
*{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/NEWS01/701190332/1006 | title=10 years for 'Dr. Dino'| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= 19 January 2007| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = 2007-01-20}}
*{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/NEWS01/701200319/1006 | title=A decade for 'Dr. Dino'| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= 20 January 2007| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = 2007-01-20}}
