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{{wikinews|Evangelist Hovind found guilty for tax fraud }}
→Legal problems
On [[October 21]], [[2006]], the trial began in which he hoped to convince a jury that his amusement park admission and merchandise sales belonged to God and cannot be taxed.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Evangelist's trial begins: Dinosaur Adventure Land owner, wife face 58 counts of tax fraud| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= October 18, 2006 | first=Angela | last=Fail | accessdate = }}</ref> After the first week of testimony the trial was postponed due to a defense lawyer's illness.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Hovind trial resumes Monday| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= 25 October 2006 | first=| last=Staff | accessdate = }}</ref> Former and current workers, IRS agents, a bank employee, and a lawyer of a non-profit Christian organization testified in the trial. Workers testified that they had to punch time cards, had vacation and sick days; while others testified Hovind claimed he had "beat" the tax system.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Lawyer: Hovind detailed actions: Evangelist said he 'beat the system' | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= October 21, 2006 | first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = }}</ref> During the trial, the judge "admonished" Hovind's attorney for wasting time and asking irrelevant questions.<ref>{{cite news | url= | title=Judge admonishes Hovind attorney | publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= November 1, 2006 | first=Nicole | last=Lozare | accessdate =}}</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> The ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'' noted, "The saddest thing: Had they cooperated with the agents, they probably wouldn't be worrying about prison sentences now."<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 = }}</ref>
Hovind was sentenced on [[January 19]], [[2007]] to ten years in prison and ordered to pay the federal government restitution of over $600,000. After his prison term finishes, he will have to serve another three years of probation. A tearful Hovind had hoped to avoid prison, telling the court, "If it's just money the IRS wants, there are thousands of people out there who will help pay the money they want so I can go back out there and preach."<ref name="sentencing">{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/NEWS01/701190332/1006 | title=10 years for 'Dr. Dino'| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= 19 January 2007| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = 2007-01-20}}</ref> {{wikinews|Dr Dino gets 10 years in prison}}
Hovind's teary-eyed court room behavior was in stark contrast to phone calls he made while in jail.<ref name="Decade">{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/NEWS01/701200319/1006 | title=A decade for 'Dr. Dino'| publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date= 20 January 2006| first=Michael | last=Stewart | accessdate = 2007-01-20}}</ref> One conversation with Eric Hovind, Kent Hovind's son, showed the two plotted to hide a motor vehicle title and property deeds to prevent the government from collecting the property to pay for owed debt.<ref name="jailcalls">{{cite news | url=http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070120/VIDEO/70119009/1006 | title=Kent Hovind Jail Calls|publisher=Pensacola News Journal | date=January 21, 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-01-21}}</ref>
