ChuckD
The Gay Lord of Freestyle
Richard Hatch, who rose to fame as the first winner of the "Survivor" TV series, was arraigned on charges of tax evasion on Tuesday for not declaring more than $1 million in earnings. He was released after surrendering his passport and paying a $50,000 bond.
Hatch, 43, a Rhode Island resident, was formally charged in federal court in Providence after prosecutors said he failed to declare the $1 million he earned for beating out all other contestants on the hit reality TV show in 2000.
Hatch, a corporate trainer and consultant, is also charged with failing to declare the $10,000 prize he earned for appearing on the series' final episode and more than $300,000 he earned the following year from radio appearances.
The charges against Hatch carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Hatch had no comment following the court appearance.
No date was set for the next hearing on the case.
Court documents filed earlier this month show that Hatch agreed to plead guilty to the charges, but the agreement is not binding and Hatch could still proceed to a trial.
The original "Survivor" series became a ratings sensation for CBS and helped spark a boom in reality-based shows.
Hatch, 43, a Rhode Island resident, was formally charged in federal court in Providence after prosecutors said he failed to declare the $1 million he earned for beating out all other contestants on the hit reality TV show in 2000.
Hatch, a corporate trainer and consultant, is also charged with failing to declare the $10,000 prize he earned for appearing on the series' final episode and more than $300,000 he earned the following year from radio appearances.
The charges against Hatch carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Hatch had no comment following the court appearance.
No date was set for the next hearing on the case.
Court documents filed earlier this month show that Hatch agreed to plead guilty to the charges, but the agreement is not binding and Hatch could still proceed to a trial.
The original "Survivor" series became a ratings sensation for CBS and helped spark a boom in reality-based shows.
