Richard Hatch “survives” in an Okie pokey

By M&C News Jul 24, 2006, 18:22 GMT

Richard Hatch, the man who won the first season of reality show Survivor has been transferred from a low security Massachusetts county facility to the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma, his first stop to the federal pen.

According to the Washington Post, Hatch was sentenced to 51 months in May for evading taxes on his $1 million Survivor winnings, on $327,000 he earned for co-hosting a radio show and $28,000 in rent on property he owned.

The paper reports he was acquitted of seven charges of bank, mail and wire fraud.  His possible sentencing could have been up to 13 years in prison and a fine of $600,000.

Hatch has appealed his sentence, reportedly working with his lawyers on the appeal.  Prosecutors claimed Hatch failed to pay the IRS out of sheer greed. Hatch’s attorney Michael Minns said lawyers and accountants repeatedly gave Hatch poor advice. Minns said Hatch never intended to commit any crimes.

On the reality show "Survivor," Hatch was frequently nude and really grated the nerves of his co-contestants because of his prickly pear demeanor.

Hatch has most recently appeared on the "Battle of the Network Reality Stars" on Bravo network.  He was arrested in April, 2000 on a charge of abusing his then 9-year-old son. That charge was later dismissed.