Dinosaur Adventure Land and Kent Hovind held in "contempt of court" after four years

[Questioninggeller]

Escambia County authorities this week locked up a museum building at the theme park on North Palafox Street in Pensacola after Circuit Judge Michael Allen ruled the owners were in contempt of court.

Owners of the park, which shows how dinosaurs may have roamed the Earth just a few thousand years ago, did not obtain a building permit before constructing the building in 2002. They have argued in and out of court that it violates their "deeply held" religious beliefs, and that the church-run facility does not have to obtain permits.

After almost four years of litigation, the judge disagreed and said the county has the authority to close the building until the owners comply with regulations.

The judge also fined two church leaders $500 each per day for every day the building is used or occupied. If church officials continue to refuse to comply with local ordinances, the judge may decide that the building can be razed, Allen's ruling said.


Hovind's response:

A building permit and inspection by county authorities is vital to ensuring the theme park is safe for the thousands of people who reportedly visit the park and museum every year, Whitehead said.

Church leader Kent Hovind vowed to appeal the case.

"We will continue our legal fight," Hovind said Thursday.

"This is pure religious persecution," said Glen Stoll, who works closely with Hovind on legal issues.


on a side note:

Last year, the U.S. attorney in Seattle filed a lawsuit against Stoll, charging him with promoting a scheme encouraging people to avoid paying taxes by claiming to be religious entities, according to news reports.

A federal judge ruled against Stoll, ordering him to stop the practices. Stoll said Thursday that he doesn't recognize the ruling because he was never properly served with court papers.


http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/NEWS01/604070340/1006

[scotth]

If church officials continue to refuse to comply with local ordinances, the judge may decide that the building can be razed, Allen's ruling said.


Thanks for making me smile. I needed it.

[Zep]

In which case, I hope Hovind tries to hold out for as long as possible! ;) :D

[Dr Adequate]

Owners of the park, which shows how dinosaurs may have roamed the Earth just a few thousand years ago, did not obtain a building permit before constructing the building in 2002. They have argued in and out of court that it violates their "deeply held" religious beliefs, and that the church-run facility does not have to obtain permits...

A building permit and inspection by county authorities is vital to ensuring the theme park is safe for the thousands of people who reportedly visit the park and museum every year, Whitehead said. Deeply held religious beliefs?

"Thou shalt not ensure that thy theme parks are safe for children, for this is an abomination in my sight." (Book of Lawsuits Waiting To Happen, 4:18)

[westphalia]

Perhaps Hovind has a case here, folks. If permits are required for the safe enjoyment of the park by the thousands of people who reportedly attend it each year, he should show attendance records to the judge. If those attendance records are as low as I suspect they might be, and reflect only repeated walk-throughs by Kent and his family, perhaps the need for a permit doesn't exist.

[Questioninggeller]

Perhaps Hovind has a case here, folks. If permits are required for the safe enjoyment of the park by the thousands of people who reportedly attend it each year, he should show attendance records to the judge. If those attendance records are as low as I suspect they might be, and reflect only repeated walk-throughs by Kent and his family, perhaps the need for a permit doesn't exist.

Those records, at $7.00 a ticket, would also show something else in a unrelated court case.

In 2004, The Internal Revenue Service raided Hovind's home and businesses. Agents said Hovind had failed to pay taxes. That case is pending, and federal attorneys declined to comment about it.

Hovind doesn't have a business license or tax-exempt status. See: http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/18/State/Biblical_theme_park_s.shtml

Also for information on this "theme park," CSICOP did a write up: http://www.csicop.org/si/2004-11/hovind.html

[Wowbagger]

Church leader Kent Hovind vowed to appeal the case.
I suggest he skip the courts, and deal directly with an even higher authority, on this one. :D

[jj]

I suggest he skip the courts, and deal directly with an even higher authority, on this one. :D


Now now, Ed helps those who help themselves.

[arthwollipot]

Perhaps Hovind has a case here, folks. If permits are required for the safe enjoyment of the park by the thousands of people who reportedly attend it each year, he should show attendance records to the judge. If those attendance records are as low as I suspect they might be, and reflect only repeated walk-throughs by Kent and his family, perhaps the need for a permit doesn't exist.

It doesn't matter if the premises are safe or not. He violated the building code by not getting a permit. The law has been broken. If he had bothered to get a permit, it wouldn't have come to this.

[prewitt81]

"Scripture also says 'Render unto Caesar what Caesar demands.' And right now, Caesar demands a building permit," County Commission Chairman Mike Whitehead said.

Priceless!

[LeCynthia]

Perhaps Hovind has a case here, folks. If permits are required for the safe enjoyment of the park by the thousands of people who reportedly attend it each year, he should show attendance records to the judge. If those attendance records are as low as I suspect they might be, and reflect only repeated walk-throughs by Kent and his family, perhaps the need for a permit doesn't exist.

Thousands may have visited. From what I hear it's only advertised as a dinosaur park and you don't know it's a "religious intelligent design/evolution is a myth" themed park until after you are inside. The "facts" listed for each display ridicules evolution and such, but in a normal zoo-like way. I think I read this in a review somewhere, maybe the Skeptical Inquirer.

[westphalia]

I was only making a poor attempt at sarcasm vis-a-vis Hovind's attendance figures. My aim for mirth all too often outdistances my talent.

Sorry for the confusion.

[LTC8K6]

"I don't recognize your authority."

"I don't recognize your authority."

"I don't recognize your authority."

"I don't recognize your authority."

[CFLarsen]

Owners of the park, which shows how dinosaurs may have roamed the Earth just a few thousand years ago, did not obtain a building permit before constructing the building in 2002. They have argued in and out of court that it violates their "deeply held" religious beliefs, and that the church-run facility does not have to obtain permits.

This kind of argumentation/belief is also behind fundamentalists killing abortion doctors and burning down the clinics. They have a God-given right to do what they believe in.

[MattusMaximus]

Wow, Dr. Dino is in trouble with the law, eh? It just kills me how when these wackos start getting spanked in court, they pull the "I answer to a higher power" crap.

Well, one piece of advice for Hovind and his ilk. It is a line from a famous song... "I fought the law and the law won, I fought the law and the law won..."

Couldn't happen to a nicer [sarc] guy :)

Cheers - Mattus

[MattusMaximus]

Priceless!

Yeah, that was one sweet quote :D

Cheers - Mattus

[Zep]

Kent has been in trouble with the IRS for a considerable time. Linky (http://web.archive.org/web/19991115015837/www.teleport.com/~mrbswb/casemonth.html)In Re Hovind, 197 B.R. 157 (Bankr. N.D. Fla. 1996)

Debtor Kent E. Hovind was a tax protester who filed a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Petition after the IRS had seized three vehicles, a homemade trailer, and $54 in cash. Mr. Hovind had never filed a tax return (the IRS had filed them on his behalf), did not acknowledge that he was a citizen of the U.S. nor subject to its tax laws, and claimed that he was was "an evangelist employed by God". On his bankruptcy schedules, he declared that he had no property, received no income, had no expenses, and had no creditors (except for the IRS, which filed a claim for $10,690 in unpaid taxes). In finding that Mr. Hovind had filed false schedules, the Court noted that he had a home with recently installed central air conditioning, and sent all three children to a private Christian school at a cost of $4,800 per year. Under these facts, the Court had no difficulty in holding that the petition was filed in bad faith, and that he was ineligible for Chapter 13 relief under 11 U.S.C. Section 109(e) because he had no income. "The evidence presented at the hearing paints a clear portrait of a tax protester whose sole purpose in seeking relief under Chapter 13 was to obtain the release of property seized by the IRS." His petition was therefore dismissed.

[Eos of the Eons]

One's beliefs show that god won't allow anyone to be hurt at a church run theme park building. Therefore god exists and permits are not needed. To make permits mandatory to ensure safety is religious persecution.


:bwall

[Checkmite]

In which case, I hope Hovind tries to hold out for as long as possible! ;) :D

Indeed - I highly encourage Hoving to fight this decision to the bitter end! He must not just lie down for this blatant religious persecution!

[Gravy]

Dinosaur Adventure Land and Kent Hovind held in "contempt of court" after four years
...And in contempt of science forever.

[CFLarsen]

Indeed - I highly encourage Hoving to fight this decision to the bitter end! He must not just lie down for this blatant religious persecution!
Of course, when he loses (and he will), which Kingdom will be the More Powerful?

God's or Caesar's?