Posted on 12/19/2002 11:32:51 AM PST by ZGuy
The Escambia County, Florida prosecutor has dropped all assault, battery, & robbery charges against Kent Hovind which stemmed from an altercation Aug. 15 between himself and some tenants.
posted by JennyP on 9/9/2002 reporting that "Dr. Dino" had been arrested.
The court record of the case can be viewed HERE
I am posting a letter written by Kent Hovind telling his side of the story:
October 4, 2002
State Attorney, Curtis Golden,
P.O. Box 12726
Pensacola, FL 32591
Dear Mr. Golden:
This letter is my formal complaint to have charges filed against Christopher James Kehui, formerly of 100 Cummings Rd. Pensacola, Florida 32503, for assault and battery.
Here is my affidavit of facts in response to police report below:
I, Kent E Hovind, have a lease with option to buy on the two-bedroom house located at 100 Cummings Road, Pensacola, Florida State. On or about June 1st, 2002, I rented the house to Maury Adkins, an elder in the Creation Science Evangelism Ministry (CSE). On June 15th, Trudy Owen moved in the house at 100 Cummings with Maury. Maury still had his office and many household items at his other residence, a mobile home one block away at 116A Oleander Street.
On July 19th, I drove to Tennessee to help Trudy’s son, Christopher James Kehui (hereinafter Chris), move to Pensacola, along with his young son and expectant wife, Lynn. They were to move into Maury’s former residence, the mobile home at 116A Oleander Street. That residence needed some electrical work to be done, so I said they could visit with Maury and Trudy at 100 Cummings for a few days. Most of their household items were put into the mobile home.
On August 14, 2002 I spent several hours talking with Maury and Trudy Adkins trying to resolve their domestic problems. Trudy had thrown Maury out of the house and was very irrational in her behavior. Trudy was determined to leave Maury but was worried about not being able to make it financially without Maury’s support. Neither she nor her son Chris had worked or even sought work during the time I have known them, to my knowledge. She said she needed money to support her children. I told her that I understood but the fact remained that since I was buying the house and had rented it to Maury not her that she would have to leave, not him. I told her I would help get a place for her to live until this was settled. I told her that Chris and family should have moved out weeks ago, since I had only agreed to let them stay a few days. She told me the A/C was not working in the trailer so they had not moved yet. I told her I would help fix that also, but she was going to have to work this out with Maury or leave, since it was not her house. Trudy recited a list of accusations against Maury, which we talked through one by one. By the end of the conversation, Trudy realized she had been mistaken about most things on the list, and she had lied to Maury and I about others. For example: she said, “Maury is a convicted felon on parole and he has a gun in the house.” The truth is that her son, Chris, had the disassembled parts to a shotgun along with most of his other belongings, in the mobile home we were fixing for he and his family to move into. To my knowledge, Maury does not have a gun in the house or even own a gun anywhere. When pressed about her lie, she finally admitted we were right. Trudy seemed satisfied with most of what was said, so I took her and Maury back to 100 Cummings and had hopes all would work out.
That afternoon, I spent time fixing the A/C units at the mobile home myself, since the landlord was taking so long and Chris and his family were long overdue to get out of 100 Cummings. I then took Chris to the mobile home to show that him it was ready for him to move into. I told him I would help him move right away.
Later that evening, since my house at 29 Cummings is right next door to 100 Cummings, I could see that Maury and Trudy talked for several hours, and I prayed all would be resolved.
Maury left for central Florida early on August 15 to do some research for my ministry. Around 8 a.m. that morning Maury called me to tell me that things were worse and Trudy seemed determined to get me into trouble since I had not taken her side against him. Maury stated that she was talking out of her head, saying that Maury and I were destroying files and that I was laundering money at CSE. Neither of these is true. To my knowledge, I am not now, nor have I ever been, involved in any criminal activity. She had called Maury’s parole officer and the IRS to try to get him in trouble. I told Maury that I thought it would be best for me to look for a house in town for Trudy and her two daughters to move into until things settled down. He agreed.
At about 9:00 a.m. August 15, I drove to Escambia Christian School where Trudy had enrolled her two children and talked briefly with Frank C. Thomann, the Principal. I asked him if he knew of any houses in the area I could rent for Trudy, so that the girls would be close to school. Having been a school principal myself for years I also told him there were a few problems Maury and Trudy were having that may affect the girls and asked him to pray for them and to be understanding, if they were unstable or if their schoolwork was affected during this time. I then called several realtors and collected a list of possible rentals.
At about 2:00 p.m., Maury called me again to ask for my help. He said Trudy was desperate for money and wanted $500 for moving expenses and asked if I would go next door to his house to give it to her. He told me that he wanted her to sign a receipt for the money and agree on a date to vacate the house. At Maury’s request, I walked over to his house to give the money to Trudy and offer to show her some of the houses I had found for her near Escambia Christian School. Trudy and I talked for a few seconds through the storm door, and then she opened the door for me to show her the receipt. Paul Jewell, who works in our ministry, was driving by in a golf cart and witnessed Trudy open the door to talk with me. Our ministry has several buildings and we often use golf carts to make deliveries between buildings. I stood in the doorway holding the storm door open, while she stood holding the main door. I read the receipt Maury had dictated to me and wanted her to sign and she became hostile saying she would not sign any receipt.
Trudy’s son, Chris, had been out of my line of sight, but when I stepped in I could see he was sitting at the far end of the kitchen table about 20 feet away around the corner and his wife, Lynn, was seated at the table facing away from the front door. When Trudy said she would not sign any receipt. I said, “Trudy, Maury said not to give you any money unless you sign a receipt. I am your friend. He asked me to come because he and I both want to help you.” She said, “You are not my friend.” I said, “Yes, I am and I am a friend of your family. I paid to get the A/C units fixed for Chris to move into the trailer and I have a list of houses for you to look at right here. I want to help get this resolved. I have the money Maury asked me to bring.”
To my great surprise, she then went into a rage, started screaming and began to slam the door on my foot and face, so I instinctively blocked it with my foot and hand and pushed back to prevent having my face and foot hurt. I continued talking calmly and holding the door with my foot and hand. When she backed off, I stepped part way into the foyer and said, “Trudy, this is my house. I rented it to Maury and I want to help get this settled.” Trudy had backed up several feet into the kitchen. At that point, Trudy’s son, Chris, who is about 100 pounds heavier than I, began cursing and swearing and came racing across the kitchen, grabbed me and began to pick me up to throw me out the door. I said, “Chris, what are you doing? I am your friend and I’m trying to help!” He then pushed me out the door, across the porch (about 10 feet) and threw me down the steps. I cut my right arm, twisted my right ankle and fractured one of my left ribs on the bricks as I fell. At no time did I strike back at him or show any aggression to him other than to struggle to maintain my balance and protect myself as he shoved me. When I recovered, I sat on the steps and called Maury to relay the events to him. He said, “Call the sheriff and have Chris arrested.” Paul Jewel drove by again and saw me outside on the phone. The entire incident lasted only about two minutes. I called the sheriff to come diffuse the situation, then I walked next door to work in my ministry and await the sheriff.
When the sheriff’s deputy, David Carl Burk #312, arrived about 30 minutes later, he talked to Trudy and Chris first. It took me about five minutes to finish what I was doing and then I went over to the house. When I arrived to tell the sheriff that I wanted to press charges against Chris for battery, to my great surprise, the sheriff forced me over to his car where he handcuffed me and told me I was being charged with breaking and entering, burglary and assault and told me to get into the back of his car! It was obvious from his actions that he had already acted as judge and jury and found me guilty as can be seen from the opening paragraph in his report below. He did not want to listen to my side of the story and even threatened to spray me with mace, if I did not get into the back of his car. I yelled for my wife and son to come over and help and under duress and coercion got into the back of his sweltering squad car. The second officer who arrived on the scene told my wife, son, son-in-law and daughter that this looked to him like the people in the house had a set up to get me. Some time later, Officer Burk finally allowed me to tell him my side of the story, but he said Trudy, Chris and Lynn all said I had broken into the house and was violent and aggressive and he would not press charges against them.
I explained to him that at no time was I violent or threatening to anyone in the house, nor to the officers on the scene, nor would I be, as anyone who knows me well will testify. The record will show that both Trudy and her son, Christopher have a history of mental problems and violence. It is my belief that they have conspired to cause harm to Maury, me and my ministry in the hopes of getting money. The fact that they packed up everything in the house, including stealing many things from Maury, and left immediately after this incident reveals some of their real character. Maury is pressing charges for the theft and Trudy and son Chris appear to be in another county. They are getting mail at “General Delivery” Panama City, Florida.
It is obvious that the reporting officer saw none of the events described in the report and is taking the word of two people with a history of violence and mental illness. It is my sincere belief that the report is deliberately worded to make me look guilty and make officer Burk’s unnecessary arrest look justified. No one in the house was ever touched or threatened in any way except me.
My responses are imbedded in the police report below.
The DEPUTY’S REPORT #ESCO02ARR020205 IS IN ALL CAPS, my responses are in bold print.
ON 8-15-2002 AT APPROX 1400 HRS IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY FL, THE ABOVE DEFENDANT, DR KENT E HOVIND DID WILLFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY COMMIT THE OFFENSE OF BURGLARY, BATTERY AND-ASSAULT.
Kent Hovind-This is a lie and this officer could not possibly know any of the above statement. He was not there. At no time did I touch or threaten anyone involved nor commit burglary. I lease the house and was there at the renter’s request. I did not “willfully and intentionally commit the offense of burglary, battery and-assault.” This opening statement shows his prejudice against me and his attitude that I was guilty till proven innocent.
ON THIS DATE DR HOVIND CAME TO THE RESIDENCE OF HIS TENANT AT 100 CUMMINGS ST WHERE HE MADE CONTACT WITH TRUDY OWEN AT THE FRONT DOOR AND ATTEMPTED TO PROVIDE HER WITH MONEY IN ORDER FOR HER TO RELOCATE RESIDENCY. TRUDY OWEN SAID SHE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE MONEY ASKING DR HOVIND TO LEAVE
Kent Hovind -This is a lie. She is not my tenant and did not ever ask me to leave. She did try to slam the door on my face and foot and I, instinctively, reacted by stopping the door with my foot and hand.
AS SHE SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. DR HOVIND THEN FORCED THE FRONT DOOR OPEN, KNOCKING MS OWEN BACKWARDS
Kent Hovind - This is a lie. She backed into the kitchen on her own. I did not knock her or anyone in any direction.
AND ENTERED INTO THE STRUCTURE AND BEGAN YELLING LOUDLY AND ACTING IN A HOSTILE AND AGGRESSIVE MANNER, PUTTING V/OWEN IN FEAR FOR HER SAFETY.
Kent Hovind - This is a lie. I remained calm and simply told her I was here to help get this problem resolved. I was holding a clipboard with the receipt she was to sign and a list of houses I had collected and was going to help her look at. Trudy was screaming that she would not sign the receipt and I was not her friend. I was never threatening, aggressive or hostile.
VICTIM CHRISTOPHER KENUI, ALSO RESIDING AT THIS RESIDENCE, ATTEMPTED TO INTERVENE WITH THIS ALTERCATION, WHERE DR HOVIND THEN BECAME PHYSICALLY AGGRESSIVE TOWARD KENUI, WHERE CHRISTOPHER THEN PHYSICALLY WRESTLED HIM OUT OF HIS RESIDENCE AND ONTO THE FRONT PORCH THEN SLAMMING THE DOOR AND LOCKING IT AND CALLING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT.
KH- This is a lie. I never went past the foyer or attacked anyone. Christopher Kenui is not a victim, I am. He could not possibly have seen clearly any of the events in the doorway. He also does not “reside” at the address. He ran at me yelling and cursing, pushed me across the porch and down the steps about 10 feet past the door. They never asked me to leave. I was never physically aggressive. I received a cut and bruised right wrist, a broken rib and a bruised thigh. He was never touched or threatened in any way.
UPON MY ARRIVAL, I INTERVIEWED V/TRUDY OWEN, V/CHRISTOPHER KENUI AND WA/ROENALINE KENUI, WHO ALL CONCURRED WITH THE SAME STATEMENT OF THE EVENT THAT PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED.
Kent Hovind -He did not interview me. He had me handcuffed within the first 15 seconds of my arrival and had obviously bought into their story and judged me guilty before I arrived. When I tried to reason with him he threatened to spray me with mace. He did not want to hear my side. The fact that they agreed on a story is not surprising given their financial and domestic situation at the time.
I THEN INTERVIEWED DR KENT HOVIND IN REFERENCE TO THIS INCIDENT WHERE HE DID ADMIT TO FORCING HIS WAY INTO THE HOUSE STATING THAT THE RESIDENCE BELONGED TO HIM AND HE WAS MERELY RENTING THIS HOME TO TENANT OWEN AND FAMILY. DR HOVIND FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HE COULD ENTER THIS RESIDENCE ANY TIME HE WANTED THEREFORE. HE DID NOT FEEL THAT HE COMMITTED A CRIME. DR HOVIND FURTHER STATED THAT HE DID NOT ASSAULT MS OWEN AT THIS LOCATION AND THAT CHRISTOPHER KENUI DID IN FACT HAVE TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE HIM AFTER HIS REFUSAL TO LEAVE VERBALLY.
Kent Hovind -This is not true. There was no need for Christopher to get violent or get involved in any way. It is also not true that Trudy and Chris are my tenants. I was there at Maury, the legal tenant’s request to talk with Trudy. Chris was not being addressed. I did not say that Chris had to physically remove me. I do not recall ever being asked to leave, but was simply thrown out. The entire incident inside the house lasted less than 30 seconds.
AT THAT TIME, DR KENT HOVIND WAS PLACED UNDER ARREST, TRANSPORTED TO THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY JAIL AND CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, BATTERY AND ASSAULT. BOND PLACED AT $1,000 AND RETURNABLE SET FOR 9-05-2002.
UPON MY DEPARTURE AT THIS LOCATION A SECONDARY WITNESS. PAUL JEWELL ARRIVED AND STATED TO ME THAT HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT AND MERELY SAW DR HOVIND STANDING ON THE FRONT PORCH AT 100 CUMMINGS ST. HE FURTHER STATED HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY ALTERCATION. WITNESS STATEMENT FORMS WERE DOCUMENTED BY THE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES IN THIS INCIDENT TO BE TURNED IN WITH REPORT.
BURK, DAVID KARL 312 ID
Kent Hovind – Officer Burk would not listen to my demands that Chris be charged with assault and battery. This letter is my demand that Christopher James Kehui be charged with assault and battery immediately.
I agree to pay any reasonable and customary costs to serve SUMMONS on Christopher James Kehui.
To the best of my recollection, the above stated facts are true.
Please notify me what action is taken in this matter.
Sincerely,
Kent Hovind
c/o 29 Cummings Road
Pensacola, Florida [32503]
850-479-3466
Subscribed and sworn before me, the ______ date of __________, 2002, a Notary Public in and for Escambia County, State of Florida.
__________________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires 4/23/06
Copies furnished to:
State Attorney, Curtis Golden,
P.O. Box 12726
Pensacola, FL 32591
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Officer David Burke, ID 312, 4th Precinct
1700 W. Leonard Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: SGT Pat Howell, 4th Precinct
1700 W. Leonard Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
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