The Baby Holm Case Is Not A Legitimate Sub-discipline Of Hovindology

The Baby Holm case seems to have taken a hold on Hovindologists.  I have followed it pretty lightly.  It is not a tax case which at however a removed level is the proper subject of this blog.  A recent post by Danielle Holm that she asks to be circulated really intrigues me, though.  It strikes me that the Holms are coming from a space that is quite different from the likes of Hovind and his merry band.

Danielle's piece is rather long and I feel the necessity of a bit of background for readers who may be entirely new to all these matters, so there may be some things you can skip.

Kent Hovind

Kent Hovind is an independent Baptist minister.  He holds the Young Earth Creationist view - a hyper literal reading of the Book of Genesis which when you are done summing up all those begats and tacking on seven days implies the world is about 6,000 years ago.

Hovind argues that there is scientific support for the YEC view and ran a theme park of sorts that focused on the implication in YEC that humans and dinosaurs coexisted. After a long prison sentence on tax related charges he is opening Dinosaur Adventure Land in Lenox, AL.

Doctor Dino, as he calls himself, seems to have never encountered a conspiracy theory he didn't like at least a little.  YEC requires the existence of a pretty vast conspiracy, since it flies in the face of "establishment science" in many areas most notably in denying evolution, but the cosmologists, physicists, geologists and astronomers will also have issues with it.

Hovind's tax troubles are rooted in another conspiracy theory which traces back to Irwin Schiff  and others who argue that the income tax is actually very narrow in its application.  Hovind weaves in a lot more than that.  If you have three hours to spare you can check out The Dangers of Evolution, which is as close as you will get to tying it all together.

Hovindologists

Hovindologist is a term I have coined to describe the odd group of people who find Hovind both fascinating and appalling.  This distinguishes them from Hovind's fairly rabid supporters whom I dubbed Hovindicators.

In 2014-2015, Hovind faced a new set of charges as he was nearing release on his 2006 conviction.  He became a figure in the right wing conspiracy bubble, making it all the way to Alex Jones, but never making the leap to Fox, much to my chagrin, as I might have made some money if that had happened.

At any rate, first among Hovondoligists is retired IRS appeals officer, Robert Baty, who runs a Hovind dedicated Facebook site.  His focus tends to be on Hovind's "false legal narrative".  Hovind continue to maintain his innocence on the original charges that he served time for and people believe him.

The Baby Holm Case

The bare bones version of the Baby Holm case is that Christian and Danielle Holm were living off-the-grid.  Danielle was pregnant and when it came time to give birth in October 2016, they decided to go a hospital The Alabama Department of Human Resources took the child on the basis that the Holm's could not care for him properly.  This US District Court decision in December 2016 is a handy summary.

The Hovind Holm Connection

Christian and Danielle found themselves receiving encouragement from some Hovind supporters, most notably Brady Byrum.  Brady Byrum is an autodidact legal researcher. in the tradition of Irwin Schiff who is responsible for the latest Hovindication effort.

It is a little murky, but based on Robert Baty's research it appears that Brady Byrum also offered his legal assistance to the Holms.

So now Christian and Danielle besides being blessed or cursed with the support of some Hovindicators find themselves under the scrutiny of Hovindoligist in chief Robert Baty, who has another facebook site that he dedicates to them.

The Sovereign Citizen Connection

Connecting Kent Hovind to the Sovereign Citizen movement is a reasonable step.  In the United States anyway, the sovereign citizens tend to accept some sort of historical legitimacy of the United States and have some point where it went wrong.  Hovind, who is not really that systematic a thinker, will apparently support numerous versions.

A classic sovereign narrative though is that it was all good until - the fourteenth amendment, the federal reserve, going off the gold standard, the sixteenth amendment, whatever.  From there they can create a parallel legal system that runs the way they think it should - Paul John Hansen's "court of record" is an example.  Ed Brown styles himself a "constitutional ranger".

The Holms Are Different

The reason I am reproducing Danielle's statement is that it convinces me that Christian and Danielle are coming from an entirely different space.  To the extent that you can legitimately place people with fringe views on a left/right continuum, they strike me as much more left than right.  Their Hovind connection appears to be one of those random things that crop up from time to time.  With that said here is Danielle's statement.  Any emphasis have been added by me.

Danielle Holm Statement

I still truly do not know what self-proclaimed "sovereign citizens" believe in. We have been called that by those trying to oppose us, but we have never considered ourselves that, nor did we even know what that was until after our baby was kidnapped and people started flocking to us, telling us they could help us, etc...Being in a vulnerable position after having our baby kidnapped, and never being involved with law or courtrooms EVER, we were at first accepting of what we thought was "love" of others wanting to help us. Some of them had the tactics of sovereign citizens. We did not know this at the time. We were simply learning all while having the pressure of our baby being held, hostage. Some of these people may truly have been trying to help, while others may have been trying to hurt. We may never know. We do not judge anyone, and we love all. However, if anyone has told anyone, that we are "sovereign citizens", and think we are better than anyone, you are being lied to. Again, we have nothing against ANYONE, no matter what they want to call themselves, and we do not even 100% know what this term means all the way, however we do know they stand for the artificial system, still with possessions, technology and devices, while we simply just want to live in Creation free of all of that. There is a major difference. We realized throughout this entire process, that NONE of that matters, and that the only thing that matters is SERVING LIFE within CREATION and NEVER breaking the ULTIMATE law which is LOVE/DO NO HARM. This is why we are NOT "sovereign citizens". They are fighting laws within the system. We do not wish to fight at all. About laws or anything. We simply just stand for creation and not destroying life.

However, what I can say is that we do not classify ourselves in ANY group. ANY "movement" or any herd at all. This is why we stay away from religion, politics, and anything else that forces one to "choose a side". We do not choose sides. We love all. It is literally THIS SIMPLE. We wish to LOVE all of CREATION. Done. That's it. It cannot be explained more than that. We do not have one specific belief over another, within the system of lies.

We do not feel one way is better than another way in the system of lies. We feel the entire system is a system of lies, and we feel if those people have the free will, to be WITHIN the system of lies, who are we to judge? We are not here to judge. We are not here to condemn. We are not here to take away the addictions of others and/or possessions, technology or devices. We are simply here to live our lives, speaking what we feel to be true, and allowing free will for others to decide what they want in their lives. All we are asking, is why do WE not have the free will if we so choose, to return to a more sustainable way of life, flowing within creation, flowing with the organic ground, growing our foods, near clean water, building our own tiny little shelter, and living our lives back to basics without the need for profit? Why can we not, go back to this way, without being labelled as a "sovereign citizen" or even a "danger to society" or a "terrorist?" We have not harmed anyone. We have not thought about harming anyone. We never would harm anyone. It literally could not be more simple. We just want to love all of creation and serve and protect life. We simply want to LIVE and LOVE without harming anything or anyone. Why is this impossible? In other words, why do those of you who oppose us, MAKE this impossible? Because on such a large planet, full of land and water, this SHOULDN'T be impossible. It is that the people who choose to remain in their way of life, are ON PURPOSE making it impossible for us, all while trapping us, and stripping away OUR free will.

Laws in general are for possessions. Laws are for those who wish to live within the artificial way of life, with technology, devices and possessions. We do NOT wish to live in this. We are trapped right now because everyone else is enslaved in this mentality. We dropped the technology when we were travelling and walking. We did not need it other than a simple phone for emergency because of HAVING to be forced back into the system of lies for absolute needs because there is nowhere to go, because people do not allow it because of their own desires for selfishness and greed. We dropped the artificial almost all the way. We only got pulled back in, because our baby was stolen for us wanting to live simply, and show people a way back to Creation. The people who defend those who trap us, set up a trap, when you walk away from the trap, they then invade your life, force you back in the trap, and then call you a hypocrite for being in the trap, they are forcing you into! how is this love? How is this FREE WILL? They trap you, and when they don't allow you to leave the trap, they call YOU a hypocrite for still being in the TRAP!! All while holding your own created organic being, that you created with LOVE hostage as leverage for staying IN the TRAP!

Where is the free will? Why are we not free to simply be within creation growing foods, getting clean water from streams, rivers, creeks, a well, like they used to? making our own clothes by hand? Washing and drying clothes by hand? Building our own shelter by hand? Living self sustainably? Why is this seen as crazy now? Just because man and woman have created technology means that we MUST be a part of that? Laws exist because they need to govern the possession way of life. What about those of us, who are mature enough to flow within creation and simply want to live that way of life? The only law in creation is to love one another and do no harm. We are mature enough to do that. So, this simply becomes a group of people forcing us into their religion, into their way of life, and stealing our child and using him as leverage for their purposes. It is nothing more than this. If not, why can't we simply just LIVE in Creation, in a tiny little home, like the olden days, with our baby boy? Why is this FREE WILL NOT allowed? Because of other people's addictions? So, our baby suffers without his father and mother because people are addicted to possessions?

How is this love? Where is the free will? Where is the place for those of us to go, who do not need to rely on the system of lies for our needs? Where is this place where we can be free, and safe from harm, and protect and love one another without the need of profit if one so chooses? Why is PROFIT mandatory in a world where we are supposed to have free will? How are we FREE if we MUST be a slave to survive and eat and drink water? Where is the place for us to be able to go once we decide and awaken and realize we have the free will to CHOOSE to pay for our food and water, or truly serve creation by tilling the earth and growing foods for ourselves and our neighbours? Where is this option for those who supposedly have the free will to do so? Or is there no more free will on this planet? If not, who is taking away our free will when the Creator gives 100% free will at all times? Why are we allowing our free will to be TAKEN from us? For those of you, who insist on taking away OUR free will, how would YOU feel, if we took away YOUR possessions? here is the difference, we wouldn't. Because we believe in true love. And we believe in FREE WILL. Forcing someone into your way, and taking away THINGS of others, is NOT love, let alone their CHILDREN.

People then say, you CAN do that, you just need to make a whole lot of money and continue to pay property/land taxes to do so. This is exactly my point. Why? This Earth is NOT a possession. This is land, the Creator gave us ALL to be FREE to be shepherds and stewards of. We are not asking anyone to lose all of their possessions and addictions that are destroying the planet. We are only asking why cant WE do that? Why does everyone else have free will to be addicted to their false comforts, luxuries, etc...but we do NOT have the free will to return back to creation? How will ANY of us return back to creation, if you do not allow those who WISH to, to do so?

Then they say, " they are lazy. They do not want to do anything." Another lie of those addicted to their way. We are absolutely not lazy. in fact, building your own shelter, growing your own foods, tending to your animals, living without possessions, but MAKING what is needed, learning to heal, naturally and effectively, being a midwife, etc..etc..etc... is HARD work. However, very much worth it when you realize just how much willpower and strength you gain in flowing with creation, rather than against it. We do not lack WILL POWER nor do we lack a WILLINGNESS to SERVE ALL DAY EVERYDAY OUR CREATOR And all of creation. What we LACK is the FREE WILL which has been taken by our brothers and sisters, to go find a place to do this, without having to be a SLAVE of PROFIT. This is what we lack. I say it again. We do NOT lack the WILL. We LACK the FREE WILL to do so. The Creator gave us free will. Man and woman have taken this away from us, and many others who wish to do the same.

Then people say, "well you went to the hospital, to have your baby, so you wanted help from the artificial system of lies then." without knowing the BACK story of how we were being TRAPPED OUTSIDE of the hospital by a group of PEOPLE so that we had NO other choice but to enter the 2 lesser of evil traps we were being forced into!! Without the PLACE TO GO for those who wish to simply live off the land within creation which is the very thing this post is about, it becomes nothing but traps everywhere because of the selfish and greedy hearts of all who wish to be within their OWN possessions. All we are asking for is for those of you to have the free will to live how YOU want, why do we not have the free will to live how WE want, without being TRAPPED by others, as long as we are not harming anyone, especially when the way WE want to live, is the way the Creator always originally intended for us to live, in service to ALL LIFE without destroying it? Everything is so backwards.

Look at how weak the human race has become? We are allowing technology and devices to live for us, rather than us live within our own willpower to serve all life. We have become weak, dumbed down, and selfish, lacking love for all of life. This is why most people do not care about what I am writing here. And this is why ALL empires FALL. They FALL because an EMPIRE on a foundation of LIES and selfishness separate from Creation creates greed, power tripping people, hierarchies and destruction of all resources given to us by the Creator.

There is NOT a population problem here on this planet! There is a selfishness problem on this planet. A greed problem on this planet, and if it were not for all of the artificial cities, that cause pollution, and all of the manmade problems, we would be living in ABUNDANCE. Instead of limiting their artificial addictions, they would rather take out the LIFE the Creator made, and destroy creation....where do they think they are going to get their artificial addictions when there is NO MORE LIFE and even they will cease to exist, from their own destruction?

People would rather defend, and stand up for artificial buildings and profitable ventures that destroy creation than stand up for LIFE. And they say "we" are a "danger"?? Do you see us, ripping children away from other people who are destroying creation? Do you see us kidnapping children from those who truly are dangerous to the planet? Who is truly dangerous? The ones actively seeking to limit the food and clean water on this planet for us to be able to eat and drink? Or the ones trying to find that path for those who CHOOSE to do so, to be able to do so, with their own free will?

We are simply seeking this path, and not asking anyone else to do anything more, or give up anything else. We are simply asking for the free will to go back to Creation without being harassed, having our family invaded and our child stolen because of choosing to live a closer to creation way of life. We are simply looking for a little corner of a place on this MASSIVE PLANET in which we can do so, and simply LIVE without bothering anyone, all while hopefully being able to HELP others. That's IT.

Why do we NOT have free will? This is the ULTIMATE gift from the Creator. Life will be destroyed for ALL without this gift. Not by US. BY those who steal our free will, they are only stealing the free will of ANYONE who wishes to return back to creation to be shepherds and stewards of. Overtime, the more people who wish to do so, who are not ALLOWED to, who are enslaved and entrapped by those still addicted to false pleasures and luxuries....overtime, there will be NO ONE left to serve and protect the planet that even gives them LIFE while here focused on oppressing others from returning to creation. Instead of oppressing others, maybe they should be spending their time, seeking a way, or a corner of the earth somewhere in which people like us can CHOOSE to go to, to serve creation, rather than living for PROFIT. Where is that CHOICE? Where is this corner of the earth, to return back to with our free will? Why are we oppressed? We will gladly go away, and live in this corner, and serve Creation and never harm a fly, if only given that free will to do so without being harassed, jailed, our children kidnapped and possibly even violated and/or assaulted further, for simply wanting to live within creation.

End Danielle's statment

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The best historic analysis that would fit in with Danielle's view is that put out by Deep Green Resistance. Their answer to where we went wrong is civilization. 

• Industrial civilization is killing all life on our planet, driving to extinction 200 species per day, and it won't stop voluntarily.
• Global warming is happening now, at an astounding speed. The only honest solution is to stop industrial civilization from burning fossil fuels.
• Most consumption is based on violence against people (human and non-human) and on degrading landbases across the planet.
• Life on Earth is more important than this insane, temporary culture based on hyper-exploitation of finite resources. This culture needs to be destroyed before it consumes all life on this planet.
• Humanity is not the same as civilization. Humans have developed many sane and sustainable cultures, themselves at risk from civilization.
• Most people know this culture is insane and needs radical change, but don't see any way to bring the change about.
• Unlike most environmental and social justice organizations, Deep Green Resistance questions the existence and necessity of civilization itself. DGR asks "What if we do away with civilization altogether?"
• Unlike most environmental and social justice organizations, DGR asks "What must we do to be effective?", not "What will those in power allow us to do?"
• DGR offers organized, reliable ways to promote sane ways of living and surviving the ongoing crisis.

DGR has a different answer than Danielle - Decisive Ecological Warfare

There is an odd concurrence in views between those who are with Kent Hovind and DGR.  The point at with YEC thinks the world began is the point at which DGR thinks it went wrong - civilization.

The other thing you will find in DGR is a strong rejection of patriarchy and an embrace of radical feminism.  And Hovindicators are nothing if not patriarchal.

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Of course, if we get back into the middle, none of this has anything to do with what is in the best interests of the child.  It is tough to know whether the kid is better off wandering around with Danielle and Christian in search of a place where they can safely live a subsistence lifestyle or within the foster care system. 

Regardless, they would not be drawn to Kent Hovind's work camp/gulag/amusement park where you can ride three-wheelers and their theology is very much at odds with evangelical Christianity.  I think they might have done a little better if they had brushed with the system in an area of the country with more hippies and fewer fundamentalists.

I have issues with their world-view, but they have much more of my sympathy than the Hovindicators.

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Peter J Reilly probably should not be spending time on this during tax season, but so it goes.

The Hazards Of Being Kent Hovind

I'm really pleased to have Lamar Smith back with a guest post.
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In the opening voice-over to that wonderful Disney Movie 'The Blind Side,' Sandra Bullock compares the offense of a football team to a housewife paying bills.  She says that every housewife knows that the first check you write is for the mortgage.  That's the quarterback.  You pay him first.  "And as every housewife knows," she continues "the second check you write is always for the insurance."  That's the blind side lineman who protects the quarterback from getting hurt as much as he's able.  It may not be the most high profile position, but absolutely essential nonetheless.  

I read Peter Reilly's piece about the disposition of Kent's Pensacola property and find it very interesting, given that I was already planning on writing again to Peter's blog after the Hovind video I just watched this weekend.  Here it is:

This video, I think, shows virtually every facet of who Kent Hovind is both present and past.  This is him and this is what makes watching him so interesting.

If you don't have 34 minutes of your life you'll never get back, I'll sum it up for you.

Kent Hovind is opening his new Dinosaur Adventure Land in a matter of weeks.  He is going to open it without insurance.  The main point of the video linked above is to make this announcement to his followers real and virtual.  Every patron of his "park" is taking their life and health into their own hands.  Hovind will not recognize any liability in the event of injury.  He even says in the video that "if your kid gets hurt, if he survives, he'll know better next time.  Don't come to me looking to pay for it.  If you don't like this arrangement, don't come."

Kent relays that he has tried to get insurance for DAL and gone so far as to have an Insurance Inspector tour his property.  Apparently the first thing the Inspector asked was "Do you have zip lines?"  Kent responded that they did, and "they never get higher than 5' off the ground."

The Inspector said those had to go.

The Inspector asked "Do you have 4-wheelers?"  Kent responded that they did, several of them.

The Inspector said those had to go.

The Inspector asked "Do you have a 'Redneck Swing,' a rope swing that launches someone into a lake or river?"  Kent said "We do, we call it the 'Longneck Swingasaurus,'" or some such.

The Inspe.......   You know where this headed.

Kent's response to each of these demands was "But they're fun."  Kent assures his flock and everyone watching that, because they're fun, he will not be removing any of these features.  

Kent presents the case of a Commercial 4-Wheeler Park within driving distance of his property where they have more 4-Wheelers than Kent that they rent out by the hour (That's their business) and an even larger 'Redneck Swing,' than his and discovered that that firm's policy is to make everyone who comes to their property sign a waiver that patrons assume all risk for injury or death.  That other company already posts and Kent has promised to post lots of signs around their respective properties stating 'Enter at your own risk.  Not responsible for any injury or damage to property or person.'  

Kent also said "I've been reading Alabama Law........" and it doesn't, to my mind, matter what comes next.  If you've followed Hovind's earlier troubles the hairs on your neck should be standing up right now.  Kent is a prolific reader of laws, statutes, codes and policies.  He reads the heck out of those things.  Does he understand them?  Does he understand how they apply generally?  Does he really understand how they apply specifically to him?  So far, his record on these questions has been pretty poor.  In a phrase very sickeningly familiar to those who follow Kent, he states "I'm convinced I know what I have to do to operate within the laws and we're going to do that."

In the video he also makes another claim as a tangent.  He asserts that the Disney Corporation operates DisneyLand and DisneyWorld without insurance.  He claims "No one would insure them.  Can you imagine what that would cost?"

I've asked Peter Reilly to comment on this and I hope he shall.  I am prepared to be proven wrong but the notion that the Disney Corporation would operate in that manner seems utterly absurd to me.

So, why does this video, more than most of the others he produces act as a true mirror for Kent Hovind?  Lots of reasons.

He starts the video with Bible passages about one of his favorite prophets, Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was, according to the Bible, instructed by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem when they had been knocked down by an invasion and he set out to do that in the face of criticism from just about everyone.  His own townspeople mock him and criticize him for his efforts, one man trying to rebuild a city's walls.  Kent so identifies with Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was a man who was going to do what he thought God called him to do and criticism, somehow in both Nehemiah's and Kent's mind, confirm that he's actually doing the right thing.  So, that's Kent Hovind.

From him relaying the story about the Inspector coming out, it seemed that if Kent would have bent a little and given up the 4-Wheelers, the Redneck Swing and the Zip lines, he could have been insured.  Now, are 4-Wheelers and such necessary for teaching Christian Young Earth Science?  Not that I can tell.  Kent wants them and won't move forward without them, even though having what he wants ends up being bad for him, his workers, his patrons.  Kent doesn't bend or relent, hardly ever.  So, that's Kent Hovind.

In previous videos Kent has shared his plans for his staff.  Kent said, I believe even in the interview he did with Peter Reilly, that he learned from his mother "to pinch a penny until it screams."  Watch just a few of his Bible Study videos and his business model becomes quickly apparent: Don't pay for anything if you can help it.  Every Bible Study contains a section where he asks for money and materials, often quite specific materials to be donated to his Ministry.  He has also asked that willing donors sponsor his staff as "missionaries," so he won't have to pay them.  Perhaps Peter will be able to discuss a scheme such as this and help the rest of us understand the feasibility of it.  This is, of course, assuming Kent can find enough sponsors willing to pay his staff.  What happens if the sponsor decides to stop paying?  Are there still tax or W-2 considerations under something like this.  He also has stated that his plan is to have DAL be free of charge but with a "Recommended Admission Offering."  I hope Peter could also speak to this.  This seems it would make it very difficult for the IRS to know how much revenue Kent generated through this venture.  

I stand to be corrected, but I believe I read that Kent, in his previous trial utilized a public defender.  If I'm wrong, and I very well could be, please correct me.  It appears, though, that Kent is acting as his own lawyer as he's reading the Alabama Laws to determine if he needs insurance for DAL.  Had he spent some money on a proper accountant and tax attorney in the past, he could very well have avoided prison.  Kent doesn't seem to like anyone that knows more about a matter than him and certainly despises paying for expert help.  So, that's Kent Hovind.

Kent goes on at length about how the Atheists, Skeptics, Scoffers and the Devil his own self are conspiring against him, in this video.  All of these parties are trying to shut Kent Hovind down.  They've called the Sheriff on him.  They're calling every government agency to try to close him down, according to Kent.  Kent is not a man to accept blame or responsibility.  Again, he's just "trying to build a wall like Nehemiah."  Since his motive is so good, he often can't understand why anyone would stand against him.  This space that I've just described is where conspiracy theories are born.  If Kent moves forward without a rock solid insurance and liability plan, then he's laid the foundation for his own doom yet again.  If it happens that way, he'll blame everyone but himself though all of his troubles can be laid squarely at his own feet.  And that, friends and neighbors, is Kent Hovind.

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I decided to pass on the various assignments Lamar has for me, at least for now.  I did check about the Disney insurance thing as well as I could.  Here is an excerpt from the 10-k that The Walt Disney Corporation files with the SEC.

We obtain insurance against the risk of losses relating to some of these events, generally including physical damage to our property and resulting business interruption, certain injuries occurring on our property and some liabilities for alleged breach of legal responsibilities. When insurance is obtained it is subject to deductibles, exclusions, terms, conditions and limits of liability. The types and levels of coverage we obtain vary from time to time depending on our view of the likelihood of specific types and levels of loss in relation to the cost of obtaining coverage for such types and levels of loss.   (Emphasis added)

Of course a company with $88 billion in assets is in a position to self-insure to a significant extent.

I have not been watching a lot of Kent's videos lately but thanks to Bob Baty's encouragement I invested some lifespan in that  one.  I have to say that I admire Kent's frugality and having grown up in the same era(I'm a week shy or being a year older than Kent), I have some sympathy with his view that we may have gotten a little carried away protecting people 

Ernie Land has assured me that there will be a lot of effort to make sure Kent's operations are conventionally tax compliant, so I don't have any comment on what his plans are with respect to payroll.

Kent had some first class legal counsel on his second trial, which is part of the reason that he got off, along with a bit of jury nullification.  Here are some clips from Jonathan Schwartz's Interlock Media team that covered the trial including an interview with the public defender and the holdout juror

Peter J Reilly, who has tax season to contend with greatly appreciates contributions to this blog.

Last Of The Pensacola Properties Will Be Applied To Kent Hovind's Criminal Penalties

The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceeding small. Well the mills of the IRS are still grinding Kent Hovind as we see from a new flurry of activity arising out of Kent's criminal conviction in 2006.

Kent was convicted on multiple counts of "structuring" - systematically withdrawing funds in amounts slightly less than $10,000 in order to avoid bank reporting.  One of the consequences of his structuring was the forfeiture of over $400,000. Of course, he didn't have that cash having spent it on this and that including his "missionaries".

So there were parcels of real estate forfeited in lieu of the cash.  Those were mostly sold to the Hovind family allowing Eric Hovind to keep the ministry going in a different form.  That, as you may recall created some drama when Eric did not simply turn the keys back over to Kent after his return from prison.

And at least once parcel was sold to an outsider - Anthony Jaworski.  And that did not go all that well as is portrayed in this interview with Jonathan Schwartz of Interlock Media

But there were two parcels that are still yet to be sold - 116 Cummings Road and 5800 Block North Old Palafox Street.  The parcels already sold and some cash in the bank have whittled the original forfeiture balance down from $430,400 all the way to $504.70.

That would mean that any sales proceeds beyond the five hundred and change would be returned.  As this motion indicates, there would be a logistical problem returning the funds since the title was not with the Hovinds. (There is the vow of poverty and all that trust stuff.  Don't get me started.)

More to the point though included in Kent's  original sentence were criminal penalties - cost of prosecution and restitution to the IRS in the amount of $613,228.11. Kent has been paying on that since he was released at the stunning rate of $25 per month.  I'll let you do the math.

So the motion is to sell the lots and apply the proceeds to the criminal penalties.  In the footnote it is indicated that IRS - CI will handle the sale rather than the US Marshals, since they are familiar with the property.  It will be interesting to see whether the Hovindicators will take any action around the sale.

A notice has gone out to Kent and Jo giving them to sometime next week to file an objection to the sale.

I asked Rudy Davis, the strongest voice of the Hovindicatiors, what he thought of the matter.  He wrote me:

There is no surprise on my end that our government is making a move to steal property from the Hovind's after unjustly imprisoning both of them. The wickedness of this government is beyond most people's ability to imagine.   I pray that God Almighty will exercise his judgment upon the evildoers who continue to persecute the righteous sooner rather than later.   Psalms 35 and Psalms 109 come to mind. My prison ministry keeps me extremely busy with advocating for entrapped and unjustly incarcerated Chrstian prisoners. Unfortunately things are not getting any better.  However, I have no doubt the Lord will be glorified in all that lies ahead.  We will not grow weary in exposing how wicked our government has become.

Below is a video of a man (David Hinkson) who has spent 15 years in prison so far solely on the testimony of Elven Joe Swisher.  Elven Joe Swisher is a known pathological liar who wore a fake purple heart medal on the witness stand.

I also wrote to Kent's main adviser, Ernie Land who responded:

Not really. I think as a CPA you know they have 10 years and this is 12 years post conviction, so I will wait and see what happens. More corruptness in our systems.

That's one of the difference between me and Ernie.  I don't just know stuff, I look shit up.  The statute of limitations on collection of assessed tax is 10 years, but the statute of limitations on criminal penalties is 20 years starting with release.

This does raise an interesting point.  Kent has an enormous civil liability for income taxes - over three million dollars.  And that is on a ten year clock starting in 2013.  If you thought Kent's ship was going to come in eventually you would want to collect that first.  But here we may have a little bureaucracy going on.  CI might want to get credit for collecting the penalty rather than letting IRS Collections get the glory for getting something toward the income tax liability. 

You can take a look at the lots using google maps.  They didn't leap off the map and say "Buy me, buy me" when I looked but maybe you might like them. De gustibus non est disputandum.

Bob Baty alerted me to this development.  Apparently he occasionally checks the docket in the case.  Something which would never occur to me.

I almost considered this development forbes worthy, but it did not quite make the cut.  I have laid off Kent's yourtube channel, but I expect that if he had reacted to this, I would have heard.  Where is Brady Byrum when you need him?

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Peter J Reilly CPA continues to follow the Kent Hovind drama, but not with a great amount of zeal.