Richard Hatch Headed to Prison Yet Again

By Christine Fenno Posted Mar 12th 2011 11:21AM

One of the standouts on the new season of Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice' is in very hot water.

Learning his IRS lesson the hard way, original 'Survivor' champ Richard Hatch was ordered on Friday to return to prison to serve a nine-month sentence, says the Hollywood Reporter. A judge is punishing Hatch for (still) not paying taxes he allegedly owes on the $1 million prize (plus thousands for additional media appearances) he earned back in 2000 as the very first winner of CBS' hit series.

Hatch now owes approximately $2 million in taxes and penalties. He has vehemently proclaimed his innocence.

The 49-year-old Army veteran already served time behind bars for tax evasion, for more than three years. He was released in 2009, vowing that "whatever is owed, I will pay," but describing himself as "financially devastated."

At the time, he remarked that his years in jail "reduced my arrogance," but insisted he was persecuted by an overzealous prosecution that failed, according to Hatch, to overlook his sexual orientation. He told Matt Lauer, "My personal opinion: [The prosecutor] discriminated against me. I do believe that. I don't think you or anyone else could deny that we, as homosexuals, face discrimination."

Hatch is now under orders to surrender to U.S. Marshals by noon on Monday. District Court Judge William E. Smith slapped the TV personality with an additional sentence to take effect after prison -- 29 months of supervised release, with a requirement that 25 percent of Hatch's gross wages be paid to the IRS.

The judge scolded Hatch on Friday, "You can continue to proclaim your innocence. You don't have the option of engaging in this type of game or negotiation with the court. It needs to be a severe punishment. That's the only thing that will deter you in the future."

At the sentencing in Rhode Island, where Hatch resides, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Reich told the court Hatch "acted with deliberation" by failing to file "and did not make any effort to pay the amount he owed in taxes and penalties to the IRS."

U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha said in a news release, "The sentence imposed by Judge Smith, the maximum sentence allowed under the guidelines, sends the right message that regardless how hard you try to manipulate the system to avoid paying your taxes, in the end you will be held accountable."

Tags: apprentice, celebrity apprentice, richard hatch, survivor

Comments

(60)

Saturday 12 March

By Selena

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Couldn't happen to a better guy. Who's going to be doing the pushing now?

By Rockyma

I guess we know who is leaving Apprentice this week.

Sunday 13 March

By LESLI KOSTIZ

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Could someone please tell me what his "sexual orientation" has to do with paying taxes? ...and he says that prison took some of his "arogance" away...NOT! Go back and see if you could work on that while you're there.

Friday 18 March

By Stuff

You can only get away without paying your taxes if you work for the government. Ask ole Timmy G. Now that's arrogance. But then he had special dispensation from the current administration. It's hard to believe but he's still working for the treasury. Is there any justice in this country for the honest citizens, NO.

By Deborah Shirley

People don't like him because he is an arrogant , self-serving, nasty, grose, despicable, overbearing, piece of human waste..Not because he is gay..That's just the icing on the cake. It isn't about sexual orientation..Everyone has to pay taxes! People like him just drag on humanity..Good riddance Mr "nasty" Hatch!

By GaliseJ

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I agree with most of what you said. BUT, why do you say that his being gay was the icing on the cake? You make it sound that being gay is just as bad. It isn't a bad thing lady. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Stop spreading hate.

By B Burper

~~ BURP ~~

By Ewww

Put a cattle prod up his ying yang and turn up the voltage. What a disgusting and vile loser.

By RICARDO

All anyone can say GOOD !

By Susan

Can't stand this guy. He never lost his arrogance. I don't know how he can say that. And he feels rules should be different for him. Jerk.

By Jaymes

I'm amazed that the imposed taxes were not automatically witheld by the usual W-9 form upon winning the million.
Then again, it is an optional form, and one can pay taxes later if they choose to.

By jsabua

Give me a break, being homosexual has nothing to do with it. You've avoided paying taxes and until you can prove you've paid it, the IRS has proof you didn't.. You are the one discriminating and using your sexuality as a reason for sympathy. Pay your damn taxes like everyone else!!!!

By karen

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to tm-"us normal people"? What the hell!

By Todd

Why do gays always feel the need to talk about their orientation as if it's something special? We do not care.

By happy

I guess that he thinks that gays shouldn't have to pay taxes.

By preston sturges

Rudysharktooth and a couple of others have made valid observations; where is 'justice' for the thieves of Wall Street that used tax money to pay bonuses? I know 'justice is blind', but that is getting ridiculous. Where would deficits be if those 'citizens' returned the money? An amazing time.

By Joe

He definitely looks like he's up to no good.

By Heyes

Guess Hatch is missing some of his new buttBuddies and will do anything to MEAT with them again

By John

Why can't he just produce the cancelled checks, etc. that he paid for his taxes in 2000? I've been audited and I found the IRS to be friendly. However, they do want their money!

If he won one-million dollars, he probably had to pay several hundred-thousand dollars in taxes. Did he pay it or not?

In my opinion, I don't see why playing the "gay card" has anything to do with the issue.

By joe

What a douche bag!

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