The Record

The Incident

In October 2020, Kent Hovind threw his then-wife, Cindi Lincoln, to the ground at the Dinosaur Adventure Land property in Repton, Alabama, causing her bodily harm. An arrest warrant was issued on July 19, 2021. Lincoln simultaneously filed a petition for a protective order against Hovind.

Conviction and Sentence

On September 21, 2021, Hovind was found guilty of third-degree domestic assault in Conecuh County, Alabama.

He was sentenced to:

• One year in prison, with 30 days to be served in Conecuh County jail, commencing by October 18, 2021
• The remainder suspended, with one year of unsupervised probation
• A $500 fine, court costs, and a $100 bail bond fee
• $2,000 in restitution to Cindi Lincoln
• Mandatory no-contact order and required to stay 500 feet from Lincoln
• Required to surrender all firearms to the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office

Context

This conviction came less than a decade after Hovind completed his 8-year federal prison sentence for tax fraud. It represents his second criminal conviction and adds to a broader pattern of behavior documented on this site — including harassment of critics and legal intimidation tactics against those who report on his record.

Hovind has continued operating Dinosaur Adventure Land and his online ministry following the conviction.

Kent Hovind and his associates have engaged in a pattern of targeting critics and scientists who challenge his claims. Documented incidents include:

Doxxing and personal information exposure: Hovind has published or encouraged the publication of personal information — including home addresses and phone numbers — of individuals who publicly criticize his claims or his legal history. This has been documented by multiple content creators and scientists who engage with creationist claims.

Frivolous legal threats: Hovind has a history of threatening defamation lawsuits against critics, including scientists, YouTubers, and bloggers who accurately report his criminal conviction and credential issues. These threats rarely result in actual litigation, functioning instead as intimidation tactics.

Organized harassment campaigns: Critics have documented receiving coordinated waves of hostile messages, threats, and harassment following Hovind’s public identification of them in his videos or social media posts. This pattern of “siccing” followers on critics has been described by multiple independent targets.

IRS investigator threats: During his federal tax investigation and trial, Hovind filed false lawsuits and criminal charges against IRS agents, and made direct threats against IRS investigators and those who cooperated with the government. The court described this conduct as “reprehensible” and it formed part of the single obstruction count in his 58-count indictment.

Threatening judges: In the 2014 mail fraud and contempt case, Hovind and co-defendant Paul John Hansen filed submissions that personally threatened the judge. The filings recycled sovereign-citizen arguments and explicitly denied the court’s jurisdiction — a pattern documented throughout Hovind’s legal history.

Harassment of estranged spouse: After Cindi Lincoln filed a domestic violence complaint in 2021, she alleged that Hovind sent associates to her apartment to threaten her and had her apartment trashed the following day. The court issued a restraining order prohibiting Hovind from “harassing, stalking or threatening” Lincoln.

This pattern of conduct is relevant context for evaluating Hovind’s public persona as a good-faith educator and minister.

The Lawsuit

Following his release from federal prison, Kent Hovind filed a lawsuit seeking $500 million in damages from the United States government. The suit named the IRS, the Department of Justice, and multiple individual government employees as defendants.

Hovind alleged that his prosecution and conviction were unjust, that his property was illegally seized, and that his civil rights were violated throughout the process. The claims echoed the same arguments that had been rejected at trial, on appeal, and in numerous post-conviction motions.

Dismissal

The court dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous, finding that Hovind’s claims lacked any legal basis. The dismissal was consistent with the pattern of courts uniformly rejecting Hovind’s legal theories about tax obligations, property rights, and religious exemptions from federal law.

Context

This lawsuit was one of numerous post-conviction legal filings by Hovind attempting to relitigate his tax fraud case. Federal courts had already rejected his arguments multiple times:

• His original trial arguments were rejected by the jury (2006)
• His appeal was denied by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2008)
• Multiple post-conviction motions were denied
• His fraudulent lien filings resulted in additional criminal charges (2014)

The $500 million figure — exceeding any plausible damages claim — underscored the frivolous nature of the filing. The case was dismissed without any recovery, adding another entry to Hovind’s long record of failed legal challenges against the government.

A Fresh Start in Alabama

Following his release from federal prison in 2015 after serving approximately eight years for tax fraud, Kent Hovind quickly set about reestablishing his ministry and creationist operations. In April 2016, he met with Conecuh County commissioners to discuss plans for a new Dinosaur Adventure Land — a replacement for the original Pensacola, Florida park that had been seized by the federal government as part of his tax fraud case.

A supporter donated approximately 140 acres of land in Lenox, Alabama, in rural Conecuh County. Hovind announced plans to build a new creationist theme park on the property, and the new Dinosaur Adventure Land opened in April 2018.

Operating Model

The Alabama park was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Unlike the original Pensacola location, the new park did not charge admission fees. However, reports indicated the operation also lacked liability insurance — a significant concern for a property hosting visitors and featuring physical attractions.

Hovind relied on a network of volunteers and supporters to build structures and maintain the property. The park featured camping areas, recreational activities, and creationist educational displays, operating as both a ministry outreach and a gathering place for Hovind’s followers.

Recurring Pattern

The Conecuh County property became the setting for a pattern familiar from Hovind’s earlier legal history in Escambia County, Florida. Construction activity on the property proceeded with minimal regard for local building codes and permit requirements. Structures were erected by volunteer labor without the inspections and approvals required by county regulations.

This disregard for local authority mirrors the exact behavior that led to Hovind’s five-year legal battle with Escambia County over building permits at the original Dinosaur Adventure Land — a dispute that ended with his 2006 no contest plea to three building code violations.

Escalation

The Conecuh County property ultimately became the site of the domestic altercation that led to Hovind’s 2021 domestic assault conviction. In October 2020, Hovind allegedly threw his then-wife Cindi Lincoln to the ground on the property. The incident, combined with Lincoln’s subsequent protective order filing, drew renewed scrutiny to the Alabama operation and Hovind’s continued pattern of conflict with both personal relationships and legal authorities.

The Alabama Dinosaur Adventure Land continues to operate as of the time of this writing, with Hovind using it as a base for his online ministry and speaking engagements despite his second criminal conviction.

Background

While Kent Hovind was serving his 10-year federal prison sentence for tax fraud, the government moved to seize properties associated with Creation Science Evangelism (CSE) as part of the forfeiture proceedings in the original case. A court injunction was issued prohibiting interference with the forfeited properties.

The Charges

Despite the injunction, Hovind and co-defendant Paul John Hansen filed lis pendens (fraudulent liens) against the government-forfeited properties via the U.S. mail. These filings attempted to cloud the title on properties the government had legally seized.

On October 21, 2014, a federal grand jury indicted Hovind and Hansen on:

• 2 counts of mail fraud — for using the mail system to file fraudulent property liens
• 1 count of conspiracy — to commit mail fraud
• 1 count of criminal contempt — for violating the court order prohibiting interference with forfeited property

Trial and Outcome

The case went to trial in early 2015:

• The jury found Hovind guilty of criminal contempt for violating the court injunction
• The jury hung (could not reach a verdict) on the mail fraud and conspiracy charges
• The contempt conviction was later dismissed by the court
• The government dismissed the remaining charges in May 2015

Context

This case demonstrated that even while incarcerated, Hovind continued to challenge the legal system using sovereign-citizen-adjacent tactics. The filing of fraudulent liens against government-forfeited property is a well-known strategy in the sovereign citizen movement — a movement whose legal theories Hovind has repeatedly echoed in his tax arguments and property claims.

Background

Jo Hovind married Kent Hovind in 1973 and worked closely with him in operating Creation Science Evangelism (CSE), the ministry that served as the financial vehicle for Kent’s speaking tours, merchandise sales, and the Dinosaur Adventure Land theme park in Pensacola, Florida. Jo managed the ministry’s payroll operations — a role that placed her at the center of the financial structuring scheme that ultimately led to federal charges.

The Charges

In 2006, Jo Hovind was indicted alongside her husband on federal charges related to CSE’s financial operations. While Kent faced 58 counts, Jo was charged with 44 counts — primarily related to structuring financial transactions to avoid the $10,000 currency transaction reporting threshold required by federal banking law.

The government presented evidence that Jo had cashed approximately 200 checks totaling roughly $1.5 million over a four-year period, deliberately keeping individual transactions below the reporting threshold. This practice, known as “structuring,” is a federal crime under 31 U.S.C. § 5324 regardless of whether the underlying funds are legally obtained.

Trial and Conviction

On November 2, 2006, a federal jury in Pensacola found Jo Hovind guilty on all counts. Unlike her husband, who made extensive sovereign-citizen-style arguments during the trial, Jo’s defense was more restrained. Nevertheless, the jury concluded that her direct involvement in the cash-handling scheme was sufficient to establish guilt.

Sentencing

On June 29, 2007, Jo Hovind was sentenced to:

• One year and one day in federal prison
• Three years of supervised release
• $8,000 in fines
• Ordered to pay $1.6 million in back federal taxes owed by CSE

Jo was allowed to remain free on bond pending the start of her sentence. She reported to prison on January 20, 2009, and was released on December 3, 2009.

Aftermath

The Hovinds divorced in 2016, while Kent was still on supervised release. Jo later alleged that Kent had physically assaulted her in October 2020, leading to his domestic assault conviction in Conecuh County, Alabama in 2021.

On November 2, 2006, a federal jury in Pensacola, Florida, found Kent Hovind and his wife Jo Hovind guilty on all counts in a 58-count indictment. The charges included:

• 12 counts of willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over federal income taxes and FICA taxes for employees of Creation Science Evangelism (CSE)
• 45 counts of structuring financial transactions — making cash withdrawals just under the $10,000 reporting threshold to evade currency transaction reports (a violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324)
• 1 count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws

Hovind claimed his workers were “missionaries” not employees, that his ministry’s property “belonged to God” and was therefore not taxable, and that he had no income because everything he earned was assigned to his ministry. The court rejected all of these arguments.

Hovind was sentenced to ten years in federal prison on January 19, 2007. He served approximately eight years and was released in 2015, followed by a period of supervised release. Jo Hovind was sentenced to one year and one day.

During the trial, the government presented evidence that Hovind had paid employees in cash, maintained no employee records, filed no tax returns for 17 years, and withdrew nearly $1 million in structured transactions designed to avoid bank reporting requirements.

The Theme Park

Dinosaur Adventure Land was a creationist theme park operated by Kent Hovind and Creation Science Evangelism (CSE) on a residential lot in Pensacola, Florida. The park featured exhibits and rides designed to promote young-earth creationism, including displays claiming that humans and dinosaurs coexisted. It attracted visitors from across the country who followed Hovind’s ministry.

The Permit Dispute

On September 13, 2002, Escambia County charged Hovind with failure to observe county zoning regulations — a misdemeanor. The core issue was straightforward: Hovind had constructed buildings on the Dinosaur Adventure Land property without obtaining the required building permits, which would have cost as little as $50.

Hovind contested the charges, arguing that as a ministry, his property was exempt from local building codes and permit requirements. This argument — consistent with his broader pattern of claiming that government regulations did not apply to his religious activities — failed in court.

Five-Year Legal Battle

What should have been a simple code enforcement matter dragged on for five years as Hovind fought the charges. During this period, the park continued to operate out of compliance with county building codes, creating an ongoing dispute with Escambia County officials.

In April 2006, county officials took action and shut down the Dinosaur Adventure Land buildings. The court found the property owners in contempt and imposed daily fines of $500 for any continued use of the non-compliant structures.

Resolution

On June 5, 2006, Kent Hovind entered a no contest plea to three counts:

• Constructing a building without a permit
• Refusing to sign a citation
• Violating the county building code

He paid $675 in fines — a trivial amount that underscores how unnecessary the five-year fight had been. The required building permit would have cost $50.

Broader Pattern

The permit dispute illustrates a recurring theme in Hovind’s legal history: the belief that laws and regulations simply do not apply to him or his ministry. This same attitude — that his work is God’s and therefore beyond the reach of government authority — would later underpin his far more serious federal tax fraud case, which was already under IRS investigation while the permit battle played out. Just five months after his no contest plea on the permit charges, Hovind was convicted on 58 federal counts of tax fraud and related offenses.

The original Dinosaur Adventure Land property was later seized by the federal government as part of the tax fraud case.

The Arrest

In August 2002, Kent Hovind was arrested in Escambia County, Florida, on charges of assault, battery, and burglary. The incident involved a secretary at Creation Science Evangelism (CSE), Hovind’s ministry organization based in Pensacola, Florida.

The charges were ultimately dropped in December 2002, and no conviction resulted from the case.

Zoning Violation

In the same year, Hovind was cited for a misdemeanor zoning violation related to the operation of Dinosaur Adventure Land, his creationist theme park in Pensacola. The park was operating without proper county building permits, in defiance of local zoning requirements.

Hovind had argued that as a ministry, Dinosaur Adventure Land was exempt from building permits — a claim the county rejected. This pattern of claiming religious exemption from civil law would later feature prominently in his federal tax fraud case.

Context

These 2002 incidents represent the earliest documented legal troubles for Hovind, predating his 2006 federal indictment by four years. The assault arrest, while not resulting in a conviction, established a pattern of confrontational behavior. The zoning violation demonstrated Hovind’s long-running refusal to comply with government regulations — a defiance he framed as religious liberty but which courts consistently rejected as legal obligation avoidance.

Kent Hovind routinely refers to himself as “Dr. Hovind” or “Dr. Dino,” basing this on a doctoral degree from Patriot Bible University (PBU) in Del Norte, Colorado.

The institution’s status:

• PBU is not accredited by any agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• The State of Colorado lists PBU under a religious exemption that explicitly states the exemption “is not an endorsement of the institution” and the state “does not evaluate the quality of education” provided.
• The institution has been widely described as operating from a small residential structure. It offers degrees through correspondence with no residency requirement.

The dissertation:

Hovind’s doctoral dissertation has been obtained and reviewed by multiple scientists and educators. Notable issues include:

• It begins with “Hello, my name is Kent Hovind” — a stylistic choice inconsistent with academic writing at any level.
• It contains no original research, no methodology section, and no literature review.
• It was reviewed by Dr. Karen Bartelt (chemistry professor), who described it as failing to meet the standards of an undergraduate term paper, let alone a doctoral dissertation.
• The work would not be accepted at any accredited institution.

No legitimate academic institution recognizes Hovind’s degree. His use of the “Dr.” title in scientific contexts is misleading.