To the many who took time to pray for Mrs. Hovind or support her in the court room, we express our deep gratitude. The sentencing guideline for her charges was zero to six months in prison as a maximum, or probation as an appropriate option. After the prosecution filed a memorandum asking for an upward departure from the recommended sentence guidelines to be applied, the Court contacted the Sentencing Commission for a clarification in this case.
The Sentencing Commission handed back the same decision as the Sentencing Guideline Book recommended—zero to six months in prison as a maximum, or probation as an appropriate option.
In spite of these facts, Judge Rodgers ordered Mrs. Hovind to one year and one day in Federal Prison. Judge Rodgers said her reasons for the upward departure were largely based on the fact that she believed Mrs. Hovind was a “tax protestor” who conspired with her husband to evade the IRS. Those who know her, know that label to be untrue in every sense of the word.
Mrs. Hovind was not taken immediately into custody, but was graciously allowed to report to prison on August 31st. It was the recommendation of Judge Rodgers to place Mrs. Hovind in the closest women’s facility available to her family, which is located in Marianna, Florida. However, it will be up to the Bureau of Prisons to decide where Mrs. Hovind reports.
The Attorneys will be filling a Stay Request on her incarceration pending Appeal. They will also be filling Appeals to the 11th Circuit as soon as the Court transcripts are ready. Unfortunately, the transcripts were ordered in November, but still remain uncompleted.
Also signed by Judge Rodgers were the Prosecution’s Orders for Forfeiture.
The money from the checks involved in these charges was largely used to give to the people serving in the ministry. The money was not used to buy property. Yet, the prosecution has asked for the entire total of this money to be forfeited to the government through the bank account and properties of CSE. We continue to pray over this battle as well.
All of this serves as a distraction from the mission and purpose of Creation Science Evangelism. The mission of CSE is to take the gospel to the world using the creation message, and to strengthen the faith of believers in God’s Word.
We pray that by relaying the events of these legal battles to you, it will not deter from our goal—winning the world to Christ.