Yes,that may be true in your opinion. But the facts are that he hid income from the gov't and evaded taxes. There are a lot of preachers out there, why would Hovind been targeted more than anyone else and sent to prison? Whats so special about him? He did wrong and he needs to admit it and get right with the Lord. So far he seems unrepentant.
Kent Hovind, 'Dr. Dino,' guilty on all counts
Kent Hovind has had several contacts with law enforcement, including charges of assault and battery, falsely declaring bankruptcy, making threats against federal officials, filing false complaints, failing to get necessary building permits, and various tax-related charges. He has been convicted of federal tax and related charges and is currently serving a 10-year sentence for these.
Hovind's Creation Science Evangelism ministry is not listed as a tax-exempt Code Section 501(c)(3) charitable, educational or religious organization by the Internal Revenue Service[SUP]
[27][/SUP] nor is it considered a church by people who work there.[SUP]
[28][/SUP][SUP]
[29][/SUP] Instead, Hovind's various educational and religious activities are run through an organizational structure which, according to the United States Tax Court, appears to be "based on various questionable trust documents purchased from Glen Stoll, a known promoter of tax avoidance schemes."[SUP]
[7][/SUP] The Tax Court has concluded that Hovind used these trust documents as well as other fraudulent means to conceal the ownership and control of his activities and properties
In 1996 Hovind unsuccessfully filed for bankruptcy to avoid paying federal income taxes. Hovind was found to have lied about his possessions and income.[SUP]
[31][/SUP] He claimed that as a minister of God everything he owns belonged to God and he is not subject to paying taxes to the United States on the money he received for doing God's work.[SUP]
[32][/SUP] The court ordered him to pay the money and upheld the IRS's determination that Hovind's claim "was filed in bad faith for the sole purpose of avoiding payment of federal income taxes." In the ruling, the judge called Hovind's arguments "patently absurd." The judge also noted that "the IRS has no record of the debtor ever having filed a federal income tax return," although this was not the court's reason for denying the bankruptcy claim.
In 2004, IRS agents raided Hovind's home and business to confiscate financial records.[SUP]
[35][/SUP] IRS agent Scott Schneider said Hovind's businesses had neither business licenses nor tax-exempt status. The Associated Press quoted Schneider as saying "Since 1997, Hovind has engaged in financial transactions indicating sources of income and has made deposits to bank accounts well in excess of $1 million per year during some of these years, which would require the filing of federal income taxes."[SUP]
[36][/SUP] On
June 3,
2004, the IRS filed notices of Federal tax liens of $504,957.24 against Hovind and his son and their businesses due to previous legal maneuverings to evade taxation by moving property between himself, his son, and other legal entities.
http://www.pensapedia.com/wiki/Kent_Hovind
I was in ministry for 20yrs and we were incorporated . The gov't is deadly serious when it comes to taxes. Obey the law and you wont find yourself in prison. Hopefully Hovind has learned that lesson.
Not trying to be nasty MsSuzanna but those of us in ministry dont take kindly to these sorts if people. It makes everyone in ministry look like a fraud and people are less likely to support true ministry.