Hovind Update

Posted by Johnny at 10:56 a.m.

He and his wife were in court today and refused to plead guilty/not guilty because they consider themselves missionaries and thus exempt from taxes. Hovind (god, what an awful name) instead, pleaded "subornation of false muster". I can't really figure out what he's pleading here, so if anyone has any insight, I would appreciate that. Here's a quote from the Pensacola News-Journal:

Neither he nor his wife and co-defendant, Jo, wanted to enter a traditional plea of guilty or not guilty. The Hovinds question the court's right to try them. They consider themselves missionaries exempt from taxes to a government that, incidentally, is providing them with attorneys.

But Magistrate Miles Davis wanted them to enter pleas just as any other citizen would. "If they don't wish to enter a plea, I'll enter one for them," Davis said.When asked by the prosecutor to list his residence, Kent Hovind said he lives in "the church of Jesus Christ ... located all over the world."

(...) Then, Hovind offered another wrinkle. "I would like to plead subornation of false muster," he said, announcing a defense I haven't heard in 30 years of hanging around courtrooms. The precedent is not good. A man in the state of Washington tried a similar defense a few years ago, claiming he was a "citizen of heaven" and not subject to state laws. But a court there ruled that when in Washington, do as Washington law requires, and found him guilty.

What a wacky guy.