“Fallen Angel” by Alexandre Cabanel (1847), Musee Fabre, Montpellier, France (Accession No. 889.2.1), (CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)
The Daily Beast recently published a lengthy article exploring whether fundamentalist preacher Kent Hovind enabled convicted pedophile Chris Jones and alleged pedophile Brady Byron, ostensibly in the belief they had “reformed” [1][2].
Since The Daily Beast is a proudly left-leaning paper, much is made of the fact Hovind operated a creationist theme park. Presumably, this is intended as a swipe against Christians. The article, however, remains deeply troubling. At a minimum, the details reflect badly both on Hovind’s credibility and judgment.
Failure to Pay Income Tax
For those who may be unaware, Hovind was convicted in 2006 of failure to pay income tax, and ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution.
He was charged in 2015 with mail fraud [2]. Those charges were eventually withdrawn or dismissed. Hovind was though found guilty of contempt of court.
Domestic Abuse
Even more significant, Hovind was found guilty in 2021 of domestic violence for “body slamming” his estranged wife. Both Hovind’s ex-wives, Cindi Lincoln and Mary Tocco speak extensively on YouTube about their disturbing experiences with him [3]. Continue reading
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 