Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Dinosaur Adventure Land

6,958 bytes removed, 10:46, 9 April 2017
no edit summary
*Water balloon launcher where visitors are challenged to hit metal sculptures of a stegosaurus and tyrannosaurus to win "Dino Dollars."
*The "Raptor Range" of free-play activities.
 
==Legal troubles==
Dinosaur Adventure Land has been plagued by legal troubles almost since its inception, when Hovind built the park in the backyard of his [[Cummings Road]] home, then improvised an entrance on [[Old Palafox Street]] without the proper permits.
 
Hovind was charged on [[September 13]], [[2002]], for failure to observe county zoning regulations with respect to Dinosaur Adventure Land.<ref name="CSICOP" /> Despite arguments that the owners did not need a permit due to the nature of the building, the park was found in violation of local regulations. Circuit Judge [[Michael Allen]] ruled the Hovinds in contempt of court, and the park's Science Center and Creation Museum buildings were locked up.<ref>{{cite news|url= |date=2006-04-07|publisher=Pensacola News Journal|last=Rabb|first=William|title=Park could face extinction: Lack of building permits closes dinosaur museum}}</ref>
 
On [[June 5]], [[2006]], Hovind pled ''nolo contendere'' as charged to three counts: constructing a building without a permit, refusing to sign a citation,<ref>(Case # 2001 MM 023489 A) Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court [http://205.152.130.14/cv_web_1b.asp?ucase_id=62294168 Courtviewer Records Search of Kent Hovind] Case #2001 MM 023489 A</ref> and violating the county building code.<ref> (Case # 2002 MM 026670 A) Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court [http://205.152.130.14/cv_web_1b.asp?ucase_id=31271238 Courtviewer Records Search of Kent Hovind] Case #2002 MM 026670 A</ref> Hovind was ordered to pay $225.00 per count. The plea brought to an end the 5-year criminal (misdemeanor) court battle over a $50.00 building permit. In June 2006 Hovind complied with the county law.<ref> (Case # 2001 MM 023489 A) Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court [http://205.152.130.14/cv_web_1b.asp?ucase_id=62294168 Courtviewer Records Search of Kent Hovind] 2001 MM 023489 A</ref> Hovind estimates he spent $40,000 in legal expenses on this case.<ref>Hovind provides this estimate in a ''Demand to Dismiss'' in the case, which was made available through the now defunct website www.richardsayshome.com.</ref> On [[June 19]], [[2006]], the delinquent 2003-2005 property taxes/penalties for Dinosaur Adventure Land were paid in the amount of $10,402.64.<ref>The information was obtained from the Escambia County Tax Collector.</ref>
 
According to the IRS, Hovind's theme park and merchandise sales earned more than $5 million from 1999 to March 2004.<ref name="begins">{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist's trial begins: Dinosaur Adventure Land owner, wife face 58 counts of tax fraud| publisher=Pensacola News Journal |date=October 18, 2006 | first=Angela | last=Fail | accessdate = }}</ref> About half of that income went to employees who were salaried or were paid hourly wages. The government believes that grew to the point of earning $2 million a year.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Hard to believe a man with a Ph.D didn't know of a basic tax law | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= November 3, 2006 | first=Mark | last=O'Brien | accessdate = 2006-11-03}}</ref>
 
Hovind and his wife paid no taxes on the revenue from the park. On [[July 11]], [[2006]], Hovind was charged in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida]] with twelve counts of willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over Federal income taxes and FICA taxes under {{usc|26|7202}}, forty-five counts of knowingly structuring transactions in Federally-insured financial institutions to evade the reporting requirements of {{usc|31|5313(a)}}, in violation of {{usc|31|5324}}, {{usc|18|2}} and 31 C.F.R. sec. 103.11, and one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws under {{usc|26|7212}}.<ref>Indictment, ''United States of America v. Kent E. Hovind and Jo D. Hovind'', U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, case no. 3:06CR83/MCR (dated July 11, 2006; filed at 12:55 pm, July 11, 2006) (hereinafter "Indictment").</ref><ref name="arrested">{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist arrested on federal charges | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= 14 July 2006| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = }}</ref> Twelve of the charges were for failing to pay employee-related taxes, totaling $473,818, and 45 of the charges were for evading reporting requirements by making multiple cash withdrawals just under the $10,000 reporting requirement (a technique known as "[[Wikipedia:Smurfing (crime)|smurfing]]"). The withdrawals, totaling $430,500, were made in 2001 and 2002.<ref name="arrested" /> Jo Hovind, his co-defendant wife, faced 44 charges.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist's trial postponed| publisher=[[Pensacola News Journal]] | date= 1 September 2006| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = }}</ref>
 
At the time of the indictment, Hovind's defense appeared to be that although there were 30 people working for him, all of whom received remuneration in cash, none of them were employees. According to Hovind, "Nobody's an employee, and they all know that when they come. They come, they work ... The laborer is worthy of his hire -- we try to take the purely scriptural approach. We do the best we can with helping people with their family needs. There are no employees here."<ref name = "noemp">{{cite news | url=http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/7/212006b.asp | title=Tax-Evasion Charges Baseless, Says Ministry Leader | publisher=AgapePress | date= July 21, 2006 | first=Jim | last=Brown | accessdate = 2006-12-18}}</ref> Hovind had also claimed that he was not liable for taxes that and his ministry did not have to "[[Wikipedia:render unto Caesar|render unto Caesar]]" because his workers are "missionaries" not "employees".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.wdcmedia.com/newsArticle.php?ID=1514 | title=Tax Evasion Charges Baseless Says Ministry Leader | publisher=WDC Media News | date= 7 July 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-10-18}}</ref>
 
The trial concluded on November 1 with the defense deciding not to present a case.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Prosecutors rest case against Hovind | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= November 1, 2006 | first=Nicole | last=Lozare | accessdate = 2006-11-01}}</ref> After closing arguments were presented on [[November 2]], the jury deliberated three hours before finding the Hovinds guilty on all counts, 58 for Hovind and 44 for his wife.<ref>{{cite news | url=| title='Dr. Dino,' wife guilty | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= November 2, 2006 | first=Nicole | last=Lozare | accessdate = }}</ref>
 
Kent Hovind was sentenced to ten years in prison on [[January 19]], [[2007]]. On [[June 29]], his wife Jo was sentenced to one year and one day in prison. Dinosaur Adventure Land is currently run by various family members and the [[Creation Science Evangelism]] ministry.
==Hours, tours & admission==
Anonymous user

Navigation menu