Abigal Meggisnson, with support from Interlock Media was on the scene last Friday when Kent Hovind's co-defendant Paul Hansen was sentenced for contempt of court. In Abigal's report we get a rich picture of the scene that day that I have designated the end point of L'affaire Kent Hovind. Friday, August 21 Paul John Hansen, former Creation Science Evangelism Trustee and Kent Hovind’s co-conspirator, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with 10 months served time as credit, to be followed by supervised release of 3 years.
Hansen was convicted in March of contempt of court - intending to cloud the sale of former Dinosaur Adventure Land property and failing to appear for fingerprint and case prints when subpoenaed.
The sentencing began at 2 p.m. at the Winston E Arnow Federal Building in Pensacola, FL with a calm presence outside the courthouse, without a protestor in sight.
Inside, supporters and reporters filled in to witness the sentencing. Kent Hovind entered the courtroom accompanied by his friends and advisors Ernie Land and Josh Jocelyn.
Kent, Ernie and Josh would provide a video report of the event not long after its close.
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Rhonda Herrington entered clutching a Bible and sat in the pew directly behind the defense. She came to report the sentencing for her pastor James David Manning’s internet radio show. After Hansen was brought out in chains and an orange jumpsuit, she knelt on her knees in prayer with her head bowed.
A court official interrupted her to let her know she would have to rise for the judge, to which Herrington asked, “Is it against the law [to pray in court]?” The court official was kind and simply asked for her cooperation and to be included in the woman’s prayers too. Despite the minute resistance, she did rise once the judge entered and sat in her seat once again clutching her Bible for the rest of the sentencing.
At the hearings in May, when Hovind's conviction for contempt had been dismissed, Rhonda had been a presence on the street in front of the courthouse.
Judge Casey Rodgers entered the courtroom. She allowed Hansen to address his objections, comments and concerns regarding the pre-sentence report and sentencing guidelines. Hansen's primarily put on sovereign citizen arguments which he spouted with his hands twitching nervously behind his back.
Hansen first objected that the term in the pre-sentence report, residence, was inaccurate when referring to his home in Nebraska.
Hansen further claimed that he had been misinformed of the consequences of mailing the letter to the title attorney’s office. He said he had received a notice that stated he would be in civil contempt if he mailed the letter, but it did not warn him of criminal contempt of court. He said he would have taken the matter more seriously if he had known. Hansen asserted that he was planning on suing whoever had misinformed him, but Judge Rodgers was quick to steer him back towards the subject of the day, his sentencing.
Later, Prosecuting attorney, Mr. Ryan J. Love,that Hansen had sufficient notice of the consequences of his actions. Judge Rodgers informed Hansen that the jury had already ruled that he had proper notice.
A face not in the courtroom that was missed by Hansen was IRS agent Schneider. When he addressed his issue, he looked around the courtroom hoping to see Schneider. Hansen noted that he had made efforts to request that Schneider be subpoenaed for the sentencing but was not advised by Klotz to do so and had not filed the request himself in due time. The Judge made the statement that based on the fact that he would not have brought any new information to the sentencing, it would have been denied anyway.
Repeatedly, Hansen stated that he only mailed a letter and did not file it to the county clerk’s office for the extra one dollar. This would have been filing a lien on the property, a much more obvious and serious attempt to cloud the title. He wanted the court to know that what he didn’t do was just as important as what he did do.
Judge Rodgers went over the sentencing guidelines early on. The official sentencing guidelines determine months in prison by cross referencing points for offense and level of criminal history. Hansen originally had a score of 14 points but was given 3 more points (a total of 17) for substantial interference. With a criminal history of 5, the guidelines dictate a sentence of 47-56 months.
During the two and a half hours of sentencing, Hansen continued to claim that it didn’t matter what the intended harm was, as long as no harm came about. It was okay since the properties were selling well and the family would be in a comfortable position.
Judge Rodgers stated several times that Hansne had already been convicted of intending to cloud the sale, and intent was all that mattered.
Although Judge Rodgers has allowed Hansen to continually challenge the U.S. authority, she said she flat out disagrees with them. “It’s nothing personal… it’s my view of the law”
Hansen brought two character witnesses up to the stand: Kent Hovind and Ernie Land. Both testified to Hansen’s faith and his intent to do the right thing for his country.
Kent Hovind said he had known Hansen for over 10 years and spent significant time with him including three months in a jail cell. He testified to his godly character and good intentions. Hovind also gave his perspective on what Hansen’s sentence should be, “In my opinion, you should go home today.”
Ernie Land was also called to the stand. He denounced his own American citizenship while wearing a patriotic button up shirt boasting an American flag and We the People followed by the rest of the constitution. He stated that today’s U.S. citizen is not what was originally intended by the founding fathers. Mr. Love questioned him on the community courts of today. Land answered him saying there are many coming up across the nation, including some in South Florida and even one in Pensacola.
Hansen began his final statement by speaking of the hardships he has experienced in prison already and how he wished to go back home to his family. He said there was no evidence of a cloud on the property and no upset of the sale of it either. Hansen said that if he had known that he would’ve spent even one day in jail, that he would have never sent the letter.
Hansen expectedly, asked the judge for time served. “I don’t want to go to prison for 6 years for mailing a letter,” Hansen said.
He then humbly apologized for his ignorance. The Judge was confused by his apology and asked what exactly he was apologizing for. He ended up saying it was for "accidentally" committing a criminal act and his overall ignorance.
The closing statement from prosecution featured Mr. Love detailing the benefits that come with being an American citizen, yet Hansen still has claimed these benefits after repeatedly denouncing his citizenship. Love additionally noted that this case was not nor has ever been about faith. If he and his associates were to sit down with Hansen and Hovind, he said they would be shocked to see how similar their faith really is. He asked the judge to adhere to the guidelines and give Hansen 47-56 months in prison and “no greater than what is necessary.”
udge Rodger’s decision was a swing in Hansen’s direction to promote a respect for the law, she sentenced Hansen to 18 months in prison, giving him credit for the 10 months he has already served and 3 years supervised release.
She disagreed with the guidelines due to Hansen’s criminal history category. He had scored a 5 out of 6 which Judge Rodgers felt “over represents the seriousness of his crimes”
Mr. Love’s argument regarding Hansen’s beliefs became irrelevant, as the judge said, “We do not punish people for their beliefs. We do when those beliefs turn into harmful actions”
Judge Rodgers addressed Hansen and explained that the most dangerous thing to our society is when one individual takes action against the laws that apply to everyone. “You’re not special, you have to follow the same rules everyone else does,” she said to Hansen.
Hansen asked to finish his time in the Federal Prison Camp of Pensacola. The Judge agreed to recommend that facility, though she said she could not promise that he would end up there.
After court was dismissed, an unsettled Kent Hovind stood outside and said, “That should’ve never happened. The court should be apologizing to him [Hansen].”
I really appreciate Abigails sharp observation of the proceedings. Hansen is unlikely to be released while he appeals, which actually may be to his benefit, since under current conditions he is sure to be free in the Spring. Hovind continues to call for reversal of his 2006 conviction, but it seem unlikely he will get any traction. Hovind has not preached tax protester theories in a long time. He is now focused on "end times". I suspect that he will be conventionally tax compliant. The second prosecution of Kent Hovind turns out to have been a waste of government resources and not to have been in the interest of promoting tax compliance as it seems to have emboldened his supporters in their alternative views. Regardless, I'm glad that Kent Hovind is out and that he seems to be mainly focusing on his Gospel message.
Ben Shefler of Intelock Media was on the scene in Pensacola as Paul Hansen was sentenced for contempt of court. I supplemented his report with some background on Hansen and the federal sentencing guidelines.
An 18-month prison sentence and three years supervised release. That’s what Kent Hovind's co-defendant in their March trial, Paul Hansen, faced as he left the courtroom today in his orange, Santa Rosa County (Florida) Jail jumpsuit. With credit for time already served his incarceration should go to late winter or early spring of next year.
The sentencing hearing began at 2 p.m. in the Winston E. Arnow Federal Building across the street from the courthouse where Hansen was found guilty of violating a court order and failure to appear before a grand jury in Pensacola, Fla., to provide handwriting samples and fingerprints.
Hansen Speaks
Hansen explained as best he could, with the attorney who represented him at trial, Christopher Klotz, acting as stand-by counsel, the objections he had previously made.
First on the agenda was Hansen's request that IRS agent Scott Schneider be present so he could be asked about the valuation of the Creation Science Evangelism property that had been forfeited. Part of the problem, along with not providing U.S. Chief Judge M. Casey Rodgers with a reason for subpoenaing Schneider before the hearing, is that he wasn't the IRS agent investigating Hovind's case. It was Chuck Evans.
U.S. Assistant Attorney J. Ryan Love said Hansen had the opportunity to ask Schneider about the valuation of CSE property during the trial in March.
The valuation was important to Hansen because he believes there was no actual loss since the properties have been sold.
"[Hansen's] intent was to see to it that the government not sell those properties," Love said.
Klotz tried to make the argument that all the property was collateral, and that there would be a "substantially better" valuation if the losses were recalculated.
Guidelines
The problem for Hansen, even though this was the route he wanted to take, is that it opened him up to many more months of prison time if the U.S. Sentencing Commission's guidelines were followed.
The guidelines consider offense level and criminal history. With Hansen's criminal history at a level five out of six and a revaluation of CSE property, Hansen's offense level could jump from 17, where guidelines recommend 46-57 months in prison, to 23, where it recommends 84-105 months. Love seemed sympathetic toward Hansen and didn't want him to press for a revaluation because he said the government is only concerned with the intended loss. He genuinely seemed like he was trying to help Hansen.
"We want to do the right thing here," Love said.
Judge Rodgers was also skeptical about Hansen and Klotz's argument, and she overruled the objection.
Substantial Interference
Next was Hansen's objection that he caused "substantial interference" with the government's attempts at selling the forfeited CSE property. Hansen repeatedly said throughout the two-and-a-half hour hearing that he only mailed a letter to the title company’s attorney to build litigation to challenge the authority of U.S. federal court in the people's common law court. Hansen pointed out that he did not mail the letter to the Escambia County (Florida) Clerk of Court to file a lien. Judge Rodgers said, "Unfortunately, the jury disagreed."
Love said that substantial government resources were used, Judge Rodgers added that substantial court resources were used, and she overruled the objection.
Criminal History
Hansen's final objection concerned his criminal history, and he went into detail on some of it. He said he had issues with permits and housing codes for the homes he used to remodel. Another time he was closing the front door that had been kicked in at his home, and he was approached and threatened with six months in jail. In another instance, he was asked for his name and he replied, "Paul John, and my father's name is Hansen." He said he was accused of giving false information.
All of the charges were misdemeanors, and some of them were dismissed.
Jurisdiction
Then there was the issue of jurisdiction. Hansen said he's not saying the U.S. court doesn't have authority over him, but he's asked for the court to show him the evidence that it does.
"I've allowed you to present those challenges and I disagree with you," Judge Rodgers said. "It's nothing personal."
Hansen replied, "I didn’t intend to antagonize the court," to which Judge Rodgers said, "I didn't perceive it that way."
Judge Rodgers asked Hansen about the claim that he hasn't paid income taxes since 2000 or 2001. Hansen said that he has filed an IRS 6203 assessment, which according to Hansen is asking the government to assess an individual to see if anything is owed.
"I haven't neglected the IRS," he said.
Hansen ended his remarks about the objections by saying, "I don’t think my actions have ever clouded the title." Judge Rodgers pointed out that it was the intent of his actions that the jury considered.
Character Witnesses
Hansen then called two character witnesses to the stand—Kent Hovind and Ernie Land.
Hovind said he's known Hansen for about 10 to 12 years, including having shared a jail cell for three months last year.
Hovind testified that Hansen mentioned pursuing a common law court for their case "many times," that Hansen had no intention to deprive money from anyone, that the mailed letter was associated with future litigation and that Hansen is a Godly man whom he trusts completely.
Land, who's only interacted with Hansen for the past 10 months but knew about him years before, testified that Hansen had no intent to violate the law, Hansen wants to bring the country back to what the founding fathers intended it to be and that Hansen stands with the Constitution. Land said Hansen has trouble with codes and lower court regulations, so he goes directly to the common language of the Constitution instead.Land also testified that he, like Hansen, is not a U.S. citizen by the definition of the 14th Amendment and other statutes, he said.
Common Law Courts
Love, who didn’t ask Hovind any questions, asked Land where the common law courts are convening. Land said it's happening in south Florida and even in Pensacola.
In a subsequent interview with Rudy Davis, Paul Hansen indicated that in his view all that it takes to set up a common law court is twelve godly men to make up a jury. In a 2011 story for KVNO news, Anti-government groups raise flag for law enforcement, Bill Kelly characterized Hansen as part of a "small group of anti-government activists who believe all federal and local laws are invalid"
He doesn’t have a driver’s license. He lives in Omaha and owns his vehicle. Paul Hansen doesn’t register it with Douglas County. If stopped for a traffic violation he’ll explain to the police officer that he “doesn’t use one.” His next step is to ask if the officer has “any evidence this land is owned by the United States of America. Do you understand that if you issue me a ticket you will be on the witness stand and you will have to produce that evidence?”
In his interview with Davis, Hansen regretted that Love had not asked him abut common law courts. "Common law courts", as Hansen conceives them were a cause of significant concern to law enforcement in the nineties
The Sentence A long fight for Hansen was coming to an end. Sentencing was near. Judge Rodgers asked Hansen if he had any mitigating statements. Maybe he was tired or maybe he was confused, but he asked Judge Rodgers for the definition of mitigating. She explained the term and said, "You're so well trained and educated, I'm surprised you don’t know those terms."
Hansen said he's spent 7,000 hours in jail. He talked about Biblical punishment, and he thinks he's served his time and that the time has served its purpose. He said if he had known he'd spend one day in jail, he wouldn't have mailed the letter.
"It was dumb what I did," he said.
What Hansen said next left Judge Rodgers puzzled.
"I apologize for my behavior due to ignorance, but I didn't mean to be ignorant," he said.
Judge Rodgers was curious exactly what Hansen was apologizing for, so she asked him. At first he said it was for if he "accidentally" did something criminal and that he didn't mean to do any harm. Finally, he clarified and said, "I apologize for not knowing I shouldn't have mailed the letter."
When Hansen was done, Love got up and talked about the rights of all Americans. He mentioned the naturalization ceremonies and how immigrants come to America to have rights not offered elsewhere. He pointed out to Hansen that he has been given all his rights even though he doesn’t want them.
Love continued by saying that Hansen, Hovind and their supporters might be "shocked" at the beliefs of he and others on the prosecution, implying that their views, most likely referring to religious views, are actually in line with each other.
Love ended his remarks by saying he's not asking for the maximum sentence, he just wants Hansen to be held accountable. He asked for the guideline sentence of 46-57 months.
Judge Rodgers, however, disagreed with the guideline sentence. She said it wasn't a just and fair sentence; it was greater. She thought his criminal history level was measured too high, since he had no significant time in jail and all charges were misdemeanor. But time served, as Hansen asked for, wasn't sufficient either.
Judge Rodgers wants Hansen to "promote a respect for the law as it exists today." To get to that point, she sentenced Hansen to 18 months in prison, with credit given to him for the last 10 months he's been in jail.
Judge Rodgers made clear that the sentence has nothing to do with any of Hansen's religious or sovereign citizen views.
"We don’t punish people in this country for their beliefs or opinions," she said.
The sentence was a response to what Judge Rodgers described as a threatening action.
"There is little that is more threatening to the fabric of society than someone taking action to thwart or ignore the law," she said. "You're subject to the same laws as everyone else in this courtroom."
About The Guidelines
The sentencing guidelines work by a table that cross references offense level with criminal history. There is no specified offense level for contempt, but the guidelines indicate that it is often similar to obstruction of justice which has an offense level of 14. There can be a three level enhancement for the interference with administration of justice being substantial, which is what the prosecutors claimed.
Hansen's very high criminal history level is apparently he result of his long battle with local authorities on issues like permits and traffic violations.
Judges have to justify deviations from the guidelines. Were Judge Rodgers not a lady judge we might say she has given herself a belt and suspenders if the sentence is appealed. She has put it in terms of downward variance from the guidelines, but if the offense level were set at 14 rather than 17 and Hansen were allowed a criminal history of zero, the sentence is right in the middle of the 15 to 21 months called for by the guidelines.
Release Not Likely
Hansen requested that he be released because it's been hard to build a defense in jail, and he plans on appealing. Judge Rodgers indicated that it would be highly unlikely she'd agree to that because one of the reasons for being at the sentencing hearing was that Hansen was found guilty of failure to appear in court. The courtroom, including Judge Rodgers, had to hold back a chuckle.
Hansen requested, at Judge Rodgers' inquiry, to be sent to the Federal Prison Camp of Pensacola since he intends on living in Florida when he's released, but the final decision is left up to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He has 14 days to file an appeal after the sentence is formally written sometime next week.
A handful of supporters were inside the courtroom for sentencing, while no protesters, who were so prevalent during the trial, were outside.
No protesters at courthouse as Hansen is sentenced
Rhonda Herrington, a correspondent for Pastor James David Manning's internet radio show "The Manning Report," traveled from Georgia to Hansen's sentencing. She first learned about Hovind and Hansen during the March trial, and she believes what's happened to them is an injustice.
"I was relieved (by the sentence)," she said. "I thought that she showed mercy. I didn't expect any mercy at all."
Kent Hovind is one of the leading lights in the field of Young Earth Creationism, the notion that there is scientific evidence for a hyper-literal reading of the Book of Genesis. YEC implies that the world is roughly 6,000 years old and dinosaurs and humans must have co-existed. Nearing the end of a long sentence for tax related crimes, Hovind finds himself on trial this week for fraud, contempt of court and conspiracy related to filings on properties seized in connection with his first conviction. His co-defendant Paul John Hansen was the trustee of Creation Science Evangelism, Hovind's ministry. Hansen challenges the authority of the government in many areas, including the right to bring him to trial in the federal court in Pensacola. The jury in the Kent Hovind and Paul John Hansen trial started deliberations early yesterday afternoon. After about six or seven hours they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The judge sent them home telling them to get a good night's sleep and be back at 9:00 AM.
According to Hovind supporter Rudy Davis, who stayed in the courtroom while the jury deliberated, the only question that came out from the jury was on the conspiracy charge. The question was whether in order to find them guilty they would have to find that Hovind and Hansen conspired together or if they each could have conspired with other individuals.
One of Rudy's team (I believe from the accent that it may have been retired NYPD officer George Lujack) was encouraged by the question. He noted that the easiest thing for the jury to convict on would be contempt of court.
According to my expert source on federal trials, if the deadlock continues Judge Rodgers will likely give what is called the Allen charge, which reads in part:
If a substantial majority of your number are in favor of a conviction, those of you who disagree should reconsider whether your doubt is a reasonable one since it appears to make no effective impression upon the minds of the others. On the other hand, if a majority or even a lesser number of you are in favor of an acquittal, the rest of you should ask yourselves again, and most thoughtfully, whether you should accept the weight and sufficiency of evidence which fails to convince your fellow jurors beyond a reasonable doubt.
Remember at all times that no juror is expected to give up an honest belief he or she may have as to the weight or effect of the evidence; but, after full deliberation and consideration of the evidence in the case, it is your duty to agree upon a verdict if you can do so.
Here is Rudy's report.
Kent called and spoke with Erin Davis last night after he was brought back to the jail
Most of the call is a long prayer that Kent made. He asked God to move the jurors hearts to acquit both him and Hansen, noting that this is a real opportunity for God to show his power. He closed rather touchingly noting that God is his daddy and he needs him to deal with the bullies who are picking on him
Piecing together Rudy's report with that of Jonathan Schwartz, who did not stay in the court during jury deliberations, the closing statements of Hovind and Hansen's attorneys portrayed them as stubborn guys who got really bad legal advice but certainly were not knowingly breaking any laws.
Prosecutor Tiffany Eggars apparently focused on the notion that Hovind was being greedy.
Pensacola News Journal reporter Kevin Robinson was pulled from covering the trial, There was a tragic accident at Eglin Air Force Base as two Black Hawk helicopters crashed with the loss of 11 lives.
Kent Hovind is one of the leading lights in the field of Young Earth Creationism, the notion that there is scientific evidence for a hyper-literal reading of the Book of Genesis. YEC implies that the world is roughly 6,000 years old and dinosaurs and humans must have co-existed. Nearing the end of a long sentence for tax related crimes, Hovind finds himself on trial this week for fraud and contempt of court related to filings on properties seized in connection with his first conviction. His co-defendant Paul John Hansen was the trustee of Creation Science Evangelism, Hovind's ministry. Hansen challenges the authority of the government in many areas, including the right to bring him to trial in the federal court in Pensacola. I just heard from Jonathan Schwartz that the jury has begun deliberating. He found the presentations of all three attorneys to be brilliant. The male attorneys for Hovind and Hansen put on pretty much of a modified good old boy defense. Attorney Klotz indicated that Paul John Hansen had a brilliant legal mind that was stuck in 1776. The issue is whether Hansen and Hovind were willfully breaking the law not whether they were correct in their filings. Particularly when it comes to Hansen, it sounds reminiscent of the defense that Irwin Schiff's attorneys put up.
even though these cases, properly understood, do not support Mr. Schiff’s professed beliefs, they do contain language which, if honestly misconstrued and read out of context, could lead someone without legal training to believe that taxable income is limited to corporate profits
Federal prosecutor Tiffany Eggars got the final word and emphasized Hovind's statement to his daughter that the lis pendens was like putting dog crap on the government's shoes and that he would never give up trying to get the property back - filing, filing, filing because the best defense is a good offense - and it's fun.
Jonathan has a hard time seeing how the jury will be able to reach a unanimous verdict.
Kent Hovind is one of the leading lights in the field of Young Earth Creationism, the notion that there is scientific evidence for a hyper-literal reading of the Book of Genesis. YEC implies that the world is roughly 6,000 years old and dinosaurs and humans must have co-existed. Nearing the end of a long sentence for tax related crimes, Hovind finds himself on trial this week for fraud and contempt of court related to filings on properties seized in connection with his first conviction. His co-defendant Paul John Hansen was the trustee of Creation Science Evangelism, Hovind's ministry. Hansen challenges the authority of the government in many areas, including the right to bring him to trial in the federal court in Pensacola. Jonathan Schwartz, Ben Sheffler and Abigal Megginson report on the fifth trial day - Monday March 9, 2015.
Morning Has Broken
Monday morning, back in court, and the atmosphere had changed.
Gone were the vested homeland security personnel from the front of the courthouse, and the protesters had begun to blend into the landscape except one new face on the strip, a well-built ex-military black bereted individual who was pacing up and down the medium strip shouting “Free Kent,” and a whole lot of other things less intelligible and more angry.
One of guards asked us if he was with our group which we found curious.
Hovindicators Huddle
Rudy Davis and a couple of the leaders of the Hovindicators were in session but this time taking notes. Rudy had on reading glasses and had traded the scowl in exchange for a studious school boy vibe. He was taking notes and sitting behind the prosecution with a clean view of the witness box.
There were a lot more families and individuals there in support of Hovind, Hansen, Creationism and the Sovereign Citizen Movement. Two upbeat women from Louisiana who were able to make it because they worked for an oil refinery and they were on strike, a young black man in a long frock, a mom and her kids from Alabama, a few individuals and the usual ten or so middle age males who ranged in look from blue suited to a bit more rugged. It was not clear if there were any folks from Pensacola; I suspect some. Some of the women and children were dressed modestly in formless skirts and thick stockings, looking like they came from a rural religious sect. The boys, who were homeschooling and their mothers were making sure to explain the court proceedings outside during breaks, were all in khakis with neat hair cuts. They were exceptionally well behaved, barely fidgeted, shy and polite. Everyone this part of the panhandle seems gracious, generous and likable.
Hovind had the color back in his face, he looked rested and he definitely smiled broadly at the pews more often during the course of the day.
Stuff That Bores Rudy
The government’s lead prosecuting attorney, Tiffany Eggers, started the proceedings with some housekeeping, IRS Agent Chuck Evans on the stand. The review stuff before the test. Restating that the civil, or DOR liens had been lifted, not criminal, that the properties were worth $430,000 and change which was the money judgement, that there were no other forfeitures yet beside those. Also, that the properties were being sold piecemeal and that the lis pendens liens from the defendant were null and void.
Scott Schneider was Egger’s last witness, and he was not on the stand long. His cross served to remind the assembled as to the contents of Exhibit 11 A, Document 391 from March 2011.
How Sovereigns Communicate With Pretenders or Frivolous Nonsense - You Get To Choose
It was one of several of Hovind’s filings in his defense; where he restates that he does not need to follow the orders of the court, that his is a primal relationship to the land and a singular allegiance to God, that he intends to return to his property, claims sovereign immunity from the tax related crimes that he has been accused of, that he is not a legislative subject or person of the state of Florida or the United States, meaning not a subject citizen, de facto, also not a registered voter or willing beneficiary of any Trust, not a corporate entity in the state of Florida, who claims to “ contract with or not with whom it pleases me,” and beholden only to the Creator and not to pseudo sovereign entities, he is being held for a victim-less crime, and any public servant involved must refute the document within three days or they de facto agree to it, that the government must return all properties and pay back all fines and so forth.
He continued with the territorial jurisdiction challenge, the motion to vacate Church property which was put in front of Magistrate Judge E. Timothy in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Chief District Judge M. Casey Rodgers made a sweeping refutation in May of 2011 that among other items, Hovind’s request for an immediate release as part of a string of frivolous request. Hovind then parlayed, in Government’s exhibit 12, Hovind’s response to report of recommendation, June 1, 2011, that Kent was a free inhabitant and this goes back to declarations in 1772, that we are free citizens, with free ingress to/and regress, that the State had presented no evidence, that no court can trick an article free inhabitant any order vacated on such notice people to believing they have territorial jurisdiction.
IRS Agent Schneider continued to be cross examined. He testified that Nebraskan based IRS Agent Derick Tarr had served a subpoena for Hansen to appear before the Grand Jury on August 19, 2014 to submit a fingerprinting and handwriting sample. On July 30, 2014 Hansen wrote the district court, referring to the subpoena, and stated, among other things, that said subpoena had no basis in law, or territorial jurisdiction, that the agents and court officials would be wise to protect personal liability and that the burden of proof was on the court and the agents to prove why Hansen should comply, and the members of the Grand Jury as well were liable; all this per the Articles of Confederation. Furthermore, that he would fine the U.S. $150 an hour for his time wasted, that he did not, as the affiant, agree to the claim that he had agreed to be a U.S citizen, that Grand Jury subpoena did not take into account that he was a descendant of original settlers, liberated by the King of England, that he was free by Birthright, nature and God, and Earth is the Lord’s.
We hope we have not lost you there, but such is the language of sovereignty. If you want more of it, check out Hansen's website - Paul John.
Scott Schneider Under Cross
Rudy Davis has compared Scott Schneider of IRS Criminal Investigation to Javert, the obsessed police inspector in Les Miserables who pursues the protagonist Jean Valjean relentlessly.
Then there was a bunch of technical testimony which amounted to Hansen kind of dodging Witness and Victim travel coordinator Gretchen Busby’s offer of pre-paid flight and lodging. I mean, gosh, she even on August 13 texted him as to his full name and seat preference and DOB. Meanwhile, Hansen keeps insisting in various documents that he is in no way refusing to apply the law, and the ever more insistent travel office it is imperative to communicate with Tiffany Eggers.
Schneider says that the God Quest purchase on August 4, 2014 discharged the Civil tax liens on 100, 21, 29 Cummings and 400 block not criminal. Hansen’s filings valued the properties at 3.5 million on Nov. 23, 2010. Judge Rodgers then explained to Jury: civil tax assessments doesn’t mean Kent Hovind did anything wrong in this case.
Christopher Klotz, Hansen’s attorney, challenged Schneider on his familiarity with personna of jurisdiction arguments. Klotz asked Schneider about the legal challenges Hansen had sent to the clerk regarding his grand jury subpoena. When Klotz attempted to get specific and ask what legal challenges Hansen was referring to, Eggers objects due to irrelevance.
The attorneys take a moment to speak to the judge after the objection. Klotz comes back to question Schneider once again and this time asks whether Schneider has ever dealt with such legal challenges before in his 20 years as an IRS agent. Schneider replied he has indeed dealt with legal challenges, but he has never seen someone fail to show up when they were served a grand jury subpoena. Klotz also pointed out that Hansen did, in fact, notify the court, the clerk and Eggers that he would be complying with the subpoena.
Thomas Keith, Hovind’s public defender, then takes his turn questioning Schneider in regards to document 391. He pointed out that it was an addition to a previous document to dismiss indictment.
Eggers returns to ask if Schneider ever had anyone not show up for a grand jury subpoena, to which he replied, no. Schneider also expressed that the statement Hansen gave about not being a U.S. citizen was frivolous.
The prosecution rested its case at 10 a.m.
Lawyerly Stuff At Recess
Judge Rodgers let out for recess and spoke with the attorneys during this time. Keith brought out major concerns about rule 29, the June 2007 forfeiture and what exactly the government has to prove. Keith also strongly expressed his demand that the jury know what mail fraud is and have an agreement to what is committing mail fraud. He went on to demand the jury have a “meeting of the minds.” He also wanted to explain the lack of evidence--Hansen’s quiet title and the fact that Hovind had no part in Hansen’s actions. Judge Rodgers argued with this reasoning because Hovind’s cell mate was a supposed legal genius who explained everything to him.
There was talk about the conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Eggers backed up her claim of guilt on the defense’s side when she stated that everytime Hansen did something legal for CSE, he would get payment from Kent Hovind. The U.S. government is standing with their claim of contempt instead of obstruction. Eggers pointed to the six occasions Kent filed lis pendens. Hearsay was a topic of discussion during the Jury's recess. Eggers, Klotz and Keith bantered about what content was and wasn’t hearsay. Eggers stated that the claims of Kent Hovind in regard to questioning the court are frivolous.
Soon after, in one of the many huddles of the lawyers with the Judge, the Judge said she would ponder contempt vs. obstruction. The Judge had a way of appearing open minded even when any of the lawyers knew she was rejecting their suggestion. It could not of been delivered with more grace.
Then the Biven suit was discussed, and various points of law were debated, and Hansen started twisting and stretching and twisting in his seat.
At that point everyone gasped when Hovind’s defense attorney was suggesting that he include all of Hovind’s notices and defenses the next day, possibly just for some sort of sadistic leverage, items that went with the Government’s 11 B 399, which would have included all of Hovind’s platform as expressed in his legal challenges, 364, 365, 367, 376, 379, 388, 400, 430, 443, 454, 458, redacted of course.
The Education Of Paul John Hansen
Hansen took the stand and Klotz began his defense. His testimony began with unexpected vigor and charm, guided by Klotz, with some personal backstory. He told us he is from Nebraska, while denying the place was a state or in the U.S., typical sovereign citizen jurisdiction and venue mumbo jumbo, but a nice framing nonetheless.
He worked on his parents cattle feed lot of 150 acres, that there were 1500 cattle and at 15 years of age, he often feed the cattle all himself. Neighbors said he was hardworking, veterinarians told him he was intelligent, (some sort of savant?). His family grew hay, corn and soybeans. They left the cattle lot for Omaha, Neb., 15 years ago and he bought father’s farm in 1995, sold it in 2004.
He never read a book in elementary or high school, he would just read the first sentence on the test and run with it. He then became fascinated with God’s hand in history, started reading like crazy, read the entire encyclopedia, and sought to understand the role of a sovereign God in history as a theme in scriptures and a proper biblical government. He then studied law in historical context, both English and American law, to whom and where these laws apply.
Hansen studied law back to the Magna Carta and Mayflower Compact and the 1776 Declaration of Independence, along with principles of freedom, which in part means no man is free, but is free to serve as God dictates. With some real feeling and passion, he explains that America was the great experiment in freedom. Hansen studies the true intent of any law given, and joined a law study group in Omaha, Neb., which met monthly for years, usually a couple of dozen folks. They would handily discuss topics such as citizenship and territorial jurisdiction and how to position themselves in regards to mortgages and traffic tickets.
The group studied the scope of laws, whose overall purpose was to remove mythology and opinions. Mythology: not backed by science, as in phony evidence as it did not apply to Hansen. This same group has been meeting for 50 years. Hansen has been a part of it for 15 years and insisted law is written in ways most don’t understand and they do that for a reason. There is a connection between government expansion and the increasing complexity of law. Hansen explained that he spoke to crowds as large as 1,000 people on internet conferences, and it’s important to educate others because if you don’t know history, you will repeat it. In reacting to the laugh at me now but I will be proven correct later construct, he said, “We once had slavery in this country.” At this point there was an objection by Eggers who seemed to be at wits end. Judge Rodgers was consistently diplomatic and kind, and allowed the witnesses most times to finish their thoughts.
Hansen went on to glowingly layout more of his life story, that he has done radio programs, right off the earpiece from his car for two hours. He loves to talk to people in coffeeshops, and even spoke before the Nebraska legislature, explaining consequences when someone tries to pass an “unconstitutional law,” which won him a standing ovation. An autodidact, he relishes the study of law and religious beliefs. God is the lawmaker, God has delegated this to humans up to a point but man must comply with God’s law.
Hansen And Hovind Meet
Hansen recalled attending a Hovind seminar in Lincoln, Neb., around 2000 and was “elated” because Kent answered questions Hansen had had for years. In 2006, Hansen heard of Hovind’s indictment and wrote and invited Hovind to call to offer his help and services.
Glen Stoll was creator of the CSE Trust and had experience with Trust law.. Stoll had no less than 250 Trusts in operation. Hansen then explained that there were two types of Trusts, those created by government or common law and Ecclesiastical Trusts. There were five trustees in the CSE Trust. They would meet online with the purpose to maintain property, perpetually, be a good neighbor to those they came into contact with, and to protect trust assets. The Trust existed at least five to 10 years before Hansen got involved. Glen Stoll was Head Director before that. The Trust was not in operation when Hansen first got involved, and the government was taking away properties at the time. Cash flow was zero in October of 2007, in part because Eric Hovind had adopted the Trust. Hansen spent the next 8 years helping Hovind, all on a volunteer basis. He repeated several times and in several different ways that the duties of Trustees don’t do anything illegal, and legally maintain the goals of the Trust.
The Trust’s goals were to provide proper challenges as well as asking if the courts have jurisdiction and if they are acting constitutionally. Kent Hovind showed signs of interest when he facepalms when Eggers objects that a Trust cannot have an opinion.
Trustees believed they had a right to an Ecclesiastical Trust, and they believed they had a remedy, a grand sweeping impossible-to-refute remedy, if they had the had the opportunity to put the person of record on witness. If the U.S. Court system had written authority to forfeiture, then it was only fair that the Trust tried to get their day in court in 2011 with the quiet title. They just needed to be able to get the Agent of Government to sit in the witness stand to state what the U.S. government had written and then let the Trust cross examine.
Again, it was the obligation of the Trust to challenge status of land being the Trust’s vs. being the government’s. Hansen wanted a chance to ask what evidence the government had, along with the ability to file on behalf of the Trust. As the Trust officer, Hansen had the duty to legally seek remedy, and so it was acceptable and correct that they filed liens on the properties. There were nine documents filed by Hansen on behalf of Trust that supported the belief that man cannot take land from man, as it was land of CSE, and not the U.S. Hansen said that the Trust was terrified that the land and buildings of Dinosaur Adventure Land would not be sold for the at least $2,000,000 it was worth, instead being sold for the $430,300 that the government sought to collect.
Real Estate
Property potentially was to be used for a CSE theme park, and its value was rising due to the proximity of other entities. Pensacola Christian College, and Pensacola Christian Academy had all added value as they were both looking to expand. (It was mentioned today, and affirmed by the Judge, that Mrs. Horton, the founder of the college, had turned the Hovinds into the IRS). Hansen would offer repeat that the liens were there just to protect the proper value of property, the “Theme Park,” and each piece was a link in the chain, even the parking lot. Hansen had an obligation, as a member of the Trust not to lose the whole thing.
Yes, he admitted, sometimes this duty to the Trust conflicts with the Hovinds and even the ministry as Eric appeared to take control of Trust. Eric had formally resigned, and the Trust notified Eric he was acting without authority.
When asked about whose name was on the deeds and regarding the Umbrella Trust, Hansen said that Eric Hovind had no authority because he was a ministry worker. Kent Hovind was not a Trustee but they welcomed/respected his opinion, but again and again Hansen presented the view that Hovind was a scientist, oblivious and unaware and somewhat indifferent to Trust affairs. Again and again Hansen said they wanted their day in court, an opportunity they were entitled to. He admitted to contacting an attorney, as the court was forcing them to hire one. But he scoffed at attorneys, whom he typified as not wanting to get audited or butt heads.
The four Trustees voted to approve claim of lien, with Glen Stoll filing, according to Hansen in what he said was a common law injunction in June 2012. He did not attempt or encourage anyone to cloud the title, nor did he have any participation in that vote.
At this point it seemed he was doing a passable job at proving his innocence, the morning of the trial and being examined by his own attorney who was serving him. The reason that he forwarded what Glen Stoll had put together as a PDF to the title insurance company was that the Trust was acting as a good neighbor. He went on to continue to defend his actions, always being asked to by Stoll or the Trust, always the faithful and godly company man.
His attorney, at that point having some push behind him, Klotz wanted Rule 29 count denied, willful conspiracy. They Judge said she’d think about it, and then she said no.
Hansen, indignantly, would not deliver handwriting and fingerprints at the Omaha courthouse. He insisted he was challenging the subpoena, not disobeying the June 2012 order. He went on to argue that an invalid order, that they did not have a chance to contest, was not an order.
Hansen also swore that in every detail, of every action he took, he was slavishly careful not to open himself up to be charged with any form of contempt or cloud the title. He made no agreements that could have been misconstrued as illegal conduct.
After the lunch break, Hansen was back on the witness stand. Klotz continued questioning him, specifically about his intentions.
Hansen said there was “no intent at all” to defraud the government. He described that if he saw someone drop a penny, he’d have to pick it up and give it back. “Fraud is wrong, fraud is theft; God’s watching.”
More On Sovereignty
Hansen spoke of his U.S. citizenship, saying that “actually stepping down from birthright” is when we take on citizenship. “Rights come from God. They don’t come from anybody else,” he said. He said to remain in birthright that the government “has very little governance on you.” He testified that he never said he told anyone involved in the case that he was or was not a U.S. citizen.
Hansen said he was not born on government land, although the city he was born in is Pender, Neb. He said he is “technically not a resident” and doesn’t “have a residence.”
Hansen said he doesn’t believe government can take property, and that you’ve “always got to challenge.” “I exercised my right to challenge authority,” he said.
Hansen said he first saw Hovind at one of his lectures about 15-20 years ago. Then in 2006, he wrote a letter to Hovind after he was indicted, saying he was an expert of legal challenges.
“I could clearly see he was defenseless,” Hansen said.
And through the challenges Hovind filed, he “believed he would prevail in his case,” Hansen said. close to 100 people put the challenges together, according to Hansen, who were experts on board for Hovind’s benefit. Hansen said Hovind stayed out of the legal dealings because “it was Greek to him.”
“(Hovind) completely stayed out of it, he didn’t even ask us to do it,” Hansen said.
Glen Stoll, who created the CSE trust, was biblically based and recruited Hansen based on his credentials and knowledge of legal matters. Hansen said Stoll was the “most qualified person” for the board of trustees. Hansen said Hovind was never a member of the board of trustees.
Hansen recruited a man to help with the research of Hovind’s defense of his first conviction, a man Hansen only remembered as Dale.
“He gave me confidence in the documents,” he said.
Hansen said it could take five to 10 years and about $50,000, although only about $15,000 was used, to create Hovind’s defense.
“Those challenges are not going to go away, we’re going to have our day in court,” he said. “We have a fantastic remedy put together as soon as he gets out.”
Hansen said that CSE wanted to maintain common law protection, so he filed eight or nine liens, one for each property. Hansen believed that since the CSE land is not of the U.S., U.S. courts cannot take it away, and the trust operates under common law. Courts wouldn’t accept the documents, however, because Hansen wasn’t a lawyer. And a lawyer is against the belief of the CSE trust, although they eventually had to hire one.
Hansen said he first learned on Hovind’s filing of lis pendens in an email. He said nobody communicated anything to him about Hovind filing lis pendens.
“I was completely in the dark about that,” he said.
Hovind had been accepting legal advice from his Muslim cellmate Alex, and Hansen said he told Hovind to, “Be careful. Don’t file things without us looking at it.”
In an email from Hansen to Hovind, Hansen said to leave the legal matters to Dale, Stoll and the trust.
Cross Examination
Eggers then cross-examined Hansen.
It started off with Hansen disclosing his education--a high school diploma and one year of college. He said he’d been offered an attorneyship, but he didn’t want it. This caught the ear of Eggers, and she, thinking that the jury might interpret that to mean he had experience as a lawyer, asked to approach Judge Rodgers, along with the other attorneys.
Unlike nearly every other witness, Hansen watched the attorneys intently as they met with Judge Rodgers, sitting only feet away from them.
What came of the meeting was a longer discussion, without the jury present, about Hansen’s perception as a lawyer. Eggers pointed out that the Supreme Court of Nebraska, Hansen’s home state, had ordered an injunction against him for unauthorized practice of law, saying that he was “deceptive...and poses a risk to the public.” Judge Rodgers said Hansen could continue his answer because an attorneyship could be interpreted differently, and it wasn’t clear what Hansen meant. Eggers said she didn’t want to hear what Hansen had to say anyway, and continued questioning him.
Hansen said that other than him, there are three other trustees and one director (Glen Stoll), although he can’t remember the others’ names. Eggers pointed out that other names of possible trustees don’t show up in any emails or letters, just Hansen’s and Stoll’s. He did admit to memory problems.
“I don’t even remember your last name and it’s been said many times in court,” he said to Eggers.
Hansen did say, however, that he has a high IQ when it comes to analytical matters.
Eggers asked about the letter Hansen mailed to the title clerk’s office, which had his fingerprints on it. He said he put the letter in front of his house, but he doesn’t know if it passed through federal territory. This was after the June 2012 order that stated any future liens “in any manner” could cause the defendants to be prosecuted.
“We didn’t think that order was valid,” Hansen said. He added that he has to say he wasn’t aware of the order because he didn’t think it was valid, although he said “it appears like a document I received in the past.”
In total, about $3.5 million in liens on all the properties were filed by Hansen. Anthony Jaworski in particular, was asked in a letter by Hansen to pay $100 a day for use of the land, totaling $14,000.
Hansen was not listed as defendant on the June 2012 order, however, so he said in an August 2012 email that he could possibly file liens again under his name, and ended it with a smiley face.
”I’m happy that we could possibly stay in the game,” Hansen said of why he included the smiley face.
Hansen said he didn’t vote on filing more liens, but “the board wanted me to mail it,” he said.
During another instance when the attorneys met with Judge Rodgers, Hovind gave Hansen a small hand clap.
At least twice, Derick Tarr, an IRS special agent in Omaha, said he could be arrested. Hansen said he was refused a meaningful opportunity before court to cross examine Tarr about the document’s force and effect.
Hansen said he questioned who ordered him from Nebraska to Florida. He seemed unable to admit that a Nebraska judge had ordered him to Florida, saying that it appeared to him that the clerk in Florida requested his presence.
In Klotz’s redirect of Hansen, Hansen said he never approved the filing “in no way at all,” but approved for Stoll to use his signature on the document.
Hovind Briefly Takes The Stand
Unlike his first trial, Kent Hovind took the stand Monday. His lawyer Thomas Keith asked him if he was ready, and Hovind said “Yeah.” Most of the short time he was testifying was dedicated to telling his background and how he came to build his ministry. At one point when he was telling how God had provided financial assistance through various people to CSE, he appeared to tear up.
He will continue his testimony today at 8:30 a.m.
Ben Sheffler is a freelance journalist living in Pensacola, Fla. He studies psychology at the University of West Florida. You can follow him on Twitter @bensheffler.
18-year-old Abigail Megginson is an up-and-coming journalist from Pensacola, Florida. She is currently the editor-in-chief of her college newspaper (Pensacola State College’s The Corsair) and is looking to break into broadcast journalism.
Filmmaker Jonathan Schwartz is the executive director of Interlock Media. Interlock documentary Faith in the Big House, which explored the role of evangelical religion in prison life recently aired on PBS.
Kent Hovind is one of the leading lights in the field of Young Earth Creationism, the notion that there is scientific evidence for a hyper-literal reading of the Book of Genesis. YEC implies that the world is roughly 6,000 years old and dinosaurs and humans must have co-existed. Nearing the end of a long sentence for tax related crimes, Hovind finds himself on trial this week for fraud and contempt of court related to filings on properties seized in connection with his first conviction. His co-defendant Paul John Hansen was the trustee of Creation Science Evangelism, Hovind's ministry. Hansen challenges the authority of the government in many areas, including the right to bring him to trial in the federal court in Pensacola. Jonathan Schwartz of Interlock Media, who has produced documentaries on prison life among other topics, was at the proceedings on day 3 of the trial as the government shifted its attention from Hansen to Hovind. He brings his filmmaker's eye to the drama
In a high profile criminal case involving tax evasion and fraud, the federal government does not take chances by getting sloppy. Watching Prosecutor Tiffany Eggers work, much like a master surgeon, makes you not only want to never cheat on your taxes or fudge a job application.You never even want to walk outside the lines on a cross walk or even think about committing something to paper that might be a slight coloration on the truth.
In this federal courtroom, precedent is being set, and tugging at the heart strings of the Jury is the stuff of daytime television--the devil is all in the details. How the feds and the IRS verify authenticity in this case is the most OCD theatre that one can imagine, simultaneously as exciting as a forensics thriller and as dull as memorizing verb conjugations in a dead language.
Minor clerks and correctional personnel were flown in from around the country to verify a single signature or authenticate an entry in a log book, and at such cumulative expense that Hansen’s lawyer could not help but remind the Jury of that on every occasion. Envelopes containing Hovind and Hansen’s endless filings and complaints were sent to the lab and fingerprinted and sealed, originals in puffy plastic evidence bags. The vast majority of witnesses were called upon for what seemed initially like trivia, but having them read excerpts from Hansen’s and Hovind’s correspondence from one bloated filing or another not only added flavor and variety to the trial, it was as if the prosecutor was building a collective voice, a hive mind, by just having that many people, with a straight face, reading the bizarre prose and machinations of these two self-made lawyer/ prophets long enough so that the Jury had no suspicion that anyone was kidding.
Hansen is good looking in sort of a red rock Sedona, Arizona way, like a professor at a junior college who also coaches fencing and is popular. But he often starts to twitch, very kinetically, and rocks in his chair, never seeming to connect emotionally with the testimony no matter how damning, aside from an occasional word with his attorney or Hovind. But today they, H and H, talked less together, as their lawyers got busy throwing the other guy under the bus as well as countering the government case.
Today was huge. Huge because Hovind’s phone calls from various federal prisons to Hansen his pseudo lawyer and adviser, Eric his son, Jo his wife, Harlin his son–in-law, and many others were recorded as a matter of procedure. The legal team for the prosecution then masterfully edited and transcribed the material down to a sort of Greatest Hits album and played those snippets. The federal government keeps phone calls from federal prisons on hard drives for 6 months before alleged purging. If the conspiracy theory types and those that feel paranoid about the NSA being aware of our most intimate details were ever to live their worst nightmare, it would have been today in court.
The bloggers who support Hovind must have been deliciously suffering in their special way as their worst paranoia got tweaked. In the blogosphere, the Hovind supporters rule, with their exuberant talk shows and constant video and audio posts. It has been going on intensely for months. Here in Pensacola, although everyone remembers Dr Dino, the dinosaur park, or knows somebody that knew him or has his DVDs or tapes or heard him speak, fundamentally, he is forgotten. Aside from the few out of town protesters that are either outside the courthouse, in the visitor’s galley, or working on fixing their trucks, there are never more than half a dozen locals on hand to see how Kent Hovind is faring. Hovind's market is national, the creationist fan base, and of the scores of highly customized evangelical brands in Pensecola, his was not that exceptional in its surreal nature. Other ministers may be sympathetic but do not want to see empathy turned into an audit. Most local Christians think that he was a tax cheat and although a brother in Christ, an embarrassment.
The letters and audio selections reveal that Hovind, like many of us, has two sides. But his two sides are more pronounced than most of ours, and he has the Lord supplying the wind in his sails.
One side is genuinely kind and charismatic, sensitive, funny and paternal. He never blows up, he never gets angry to the point of bluster, and he’s poised all day long in the courtroom. He’s been in prison going on a decade, and the wearing is obvious.
The other, as revealed in those phone excerpts played in stunning fidelity through the courts superlative hi-tech sound system, in snippets from six months of emails, is manipulative, cunning, and not unlike the mobster running his oxytocin ring selling drugs to school kids from his jail cell.
He crushes on someone like Stoll or Hansen or Land who will champion his defense, for a while anyway, and then feels bitterly abandoned and damns them. He loves his son, but manipulates him fiercely, which his son resists with more skill as the years pass. It was tragic comic.
And Hovind gets obsessive, about chasing Anthony Jawoski so that he will allow Hansen to sleep in a trailer on the only land of Hovind’s that actually went to a third party, or repeated requests to everyone to keep after Jawoski for access to the electricity dead head that originates on the parcel that Jawoski bought from the Feds for 100,000 dollars. And yes, to get off the land and pay Hovind a hundred bucks a day as long as he remains. One can see how this whole thing really started from Hovind’s distaste for pulling construction permits and complying with zoning lawas.
Hovind believes he will win, I mean he really believes it. Why shouldn’t he when the context is Pensacola? A layer cake. The military, the whitest beaches in America, soaring murder and crime rates, hundreds of churches and dozens of Christian schools, a political and cultural progressive renaissance, some of the most fringe Christian groups in the country, fire and brimstone street preachers, and of course two doctors who performed abortions who were murdered twenty years ago but the incident still an unsavory bit of the Pensacola brand. Oh yes, good old Highway I-10 supplying plenty of mind altering goodies.
No one is spared Hovind’s legal maneuvers, cunning plans, bullying, salvos, emotional and financial blackmail, and his pursuit of the next great legal savior resulting in dozens of spurious filings and obscure challenges. He is guilty as charged, the evidence is overwhelming, and he is simply not the “ I don’t know nuttin” gentleman he pretends to be. Rather, he played a game of Monopoly, a very labor intensive game that was highly calculated, orchestrated, and perhaps more earnest than outright cynical.
He saw to it that though his property was forfeited that most of it ended up with his wife, son, or son-in-law, making sure that he would have a home when he left prison. He has the instincts of a video gamer, knowing when to stall, when to attack, and the persistence of a dirt farmer weathering the California drought.
As I sat in the court room and considered only his own calls and letters, I had no doubt that the man sets his own rules in regard to private property and tax. One is his alone to dispose of at will, and the other is not to be paid.
Hansen, his twitchier twin, seemingly in a state of perpetual bliss, is like a sunbaked hippy sleeping on the beach who finds himself one day in a suit. Perhaps less about greed, more about getting over, and living in a perpetual state of para-statism. The Jury lost any sympathy for him as his friend and fellow church member was dragged in from Iowa. The sad testimony depicted a man duped into signing on as a notary in the worst of the liens and proclamations.
Jonathan Schwartz is the executive director of Interlock Media, which focuses on environmental and human rights issues. Interlock production Faith In the Big House, on prison ministries recently aired on PBS.
For Doc Dino's view of the days event you can listen here.
Kent Hovind is one of the leading lights in the field of Young Earth Creationism, the notion that there is scientific evidence for a hyper-literal reading of the Book of Genesis. YEC implies that the world is roughly 6,000 years old and dinosaurs and humans must have co-existed. Nearing the end of a long sentence for tax related crimes, Hovind finds himself on trial this week for fraud and contempt of court related to filings on properties seized in connection with his first conviction. His co-defendant Paul John Hansen was the trustee of Creation Science Evangelism, Hovind's ministry. Hansen challenges the authority of the government in many areas, including the right to bring him to trial in the federal court in Pensacola. Abigail Megginson, a student at Pensacola State College, joined the ranks of Hovindologists yesterday for the tail end of Day 3 of the trial. No note taking is allowed in the court room.
My first time reporting on the Kent Hovind trial began as I rolled up in my car beside the court house around 2:20 p.m. I knew I was in the right place when I saw a demonstrator holding a neon green sign saying “Kent today, you tomorrow.”
I have had some experience with teen court but not a federal trial. Inexperienced as I was, I tried to ask who was on the stand when I walked in and was subsequently shushed by the court Marshall. No talking and no whispering in court from now on.
When I walked in IRS agent Schiender was on the stand being questioned by Government attorney, Tiffany Eggers. Schnieder was mostly calm and relaxed but he occasionally swiveled in his chair and tugged at his collar.
The Jury seemed to be weary after three days of the trial and leaned back in their comfortable recliners that I got pretty jealous of after the two hours I spent in a wood-backed pew.
Tiffany Eggers came off as extremely focused. She wasted no time in getting her things together. At one point, she was slightly jogging up to the witness stand to retrieve evidence from the witness. Her eyebrows were often furrowed and she maintained a high level of focus throughout the afternoon.
Hansen’s attorney Christopher Klotz, on the other hand, seemed a bit inexperienced. On one occasion, he started to ask a question to the witness and then had to step back and introduce himself. He even made the mistake of asking the real estate attorney how many years of experience he had after it had already been stated earlier.
Thomas Keith, Hovind’s public defender, did not speak save for a couple of objections.
Hansen sat in his chair and showed signs of nervousness like twitching, taking his glasses on and off and constantly swiveling in his chair.
Hovind, however, remained still and calm.
Real estate attorney with 35 years of experience in Miami for 35 years. He was questioned on how the lins pendens affects the buyer. If a lins pendens is filed on a property it lets the buyer know that a lawsuit has been filed concerning that property.
Chief U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers was in control of her courtroom, although, she seemed eager to leave as she asked Eggers if they could adjourn for the day at 5 p.m. instead of 5:30. I didn’t get a real sense of her until the end when she asked if the Jury had any questions. One jury member asked if she could work Thursday and over the weekend, Judge Rodgers responded not only with a yes but also kindly commended the jury member for being a hard worker and told her she wished she could have a day off.
James Kelly, a correctional officer at a prison camp where Hovind was held, took the stand. He told Eggers that Hovind had planned to share a tall stack of business plans with Paul Hansen during a visitation. Kelly had told Hovind that doing business in prison was not permitted.
Eggers also pointed out a conversation Hovind had with his son Eric Hovind about the land he had purchased. Kent Hovind said he expects to get “everything” back when he returns home. His son however, disagreed, and reminded his father that he had taken a vow of poverty.
Steven Anders (a church friend of Hansen’s) approached the stand last. He admitted Hansen had asked him to sign documents without explaining what the documents actually meant anywhere from 10-15 times. He was told by Hansen that the documents had to be sent off that day. Eggers asked Anders if he would have signed the documents if he had known what the documents were. Anders replied that he would not have.
After the Jury had left the courtroom, Eggers stated that she would be finishing up her case Friday, which is much earlier than anticipated. Judge Rodgers strongly advised the defense to be prepared for the next trial date.
18-year-old Abigail Megginson is an up-and-coming journalist from Pensacola, Florida. She is currently the editor-in-chief of her college newspaper (Pensacola State College’s The Corsair) and is looking to break into broadcast journalism.
