Garden Grove : Tax Protester Convicted of Illegal Use of Building

Garden Grove tax protester Thomas Pat Creech was convicted Thursday of “forcibly rescuing”--or continuing to use--a building that was seized last year by the Internal Revenue Service.

The building, on Garden Grove Boulevard, was the former headquarters of Your Heritage Protection Assn., an anti-tax group headed by Creech. A federal court jury in Los Angeles deliberated about two hours before returning with the verdict Thursday morning.

“I think it came out just the way God wanted it to,” said Creech in a courthouse interview. Creech said he plans to file motions claiming the government’s evidence does not support the verdict.

“This reaffirms the principle that disputes over property are to be resolved by courts and not by taking matters into your own hands,” said Fred Heather, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case. Heather said he had not decided what kind of sentence to ask the court to impose on Creech.

Creech also faces a contempt of court hearing in another matter next month and faces up to six months in prison on that charge.

According to Heather, Creech twice tried and failed to convince a federal judge to release the property, which was seized by the IRS on Nov. 14, 1984. The property was seized after the founder of Your Heritage Protection Assn., Armen Condo, failed to pay a $1.47-million tax penalty. Condo is serving an eight-year federal prison term in Arizona.

The one-story, stucco building will eventually be sold at an auction, with the proceeds going into the U.S. Treasury, according to IRS Special Agent Charles Young.

Meanwhile, Creech, who is free on bond, said his group will continue to hold meetings in the parking lot.

The 43-year-old former electrical contractor faces a $500 penalty, or twice the value of the property, whichever is greater, or up to two years in prison. U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima set a sentencing hearing for Dec. 16.