Dr. Dino's Judgment Day

The federal court jury Thursday afternoon convicted Kent Hovind ("Dr. Dino") and his wife Jo of multiple counts of tax fraud. The jury deliberated only two and a half hours; much of that time, we suspect, was occupied by ordering lunch and selecting the foreman.

Nicole Lozare once again drew the short straw at the Pensacola News Journal:

"Kent Hovind, founder of Creation Science Evangelism and Dinosaur Adventure Land in Pensacola, was found guilty of 58 counts, including failure to pay $845,000 in employee-related taxes. He faces a maximum of 288 years in prison.

"Jo Hovind was charged and convicted in 44 of the counts involving evading bank-reporting requirements. She faces up to 225 years in prison but was allowed to remain free pending the couple's sentencing on Jan. 9."

Many may suppose the convictions were a foregone conclusion when Dr. Dino's lawyer was admonished by the judge for wasting the court's time and, the next day, both defendants elected not to call any witnesses or to testify themselves. The truth, however, is that unlike cynical hypocrites such as the Hovinds, who made a small fortune peddling biblical fantasies to simple-minded religionists, lawyers have to work in a world of reality with the facts they are given.

In the end, reality always prevails, sooner or later.

Amplification Dept.
Two Dinosaurs
Dr. Dino gets his sentence.