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Where Are The 'Dancing With The Stars' Winners Now?
Richard Hatch's defense makes no sense
by Anna Johns, posted Jan 24th 2006 9:18AM
Closing arguments are scheduled for today in Richard Hatch's tax evasion trial. The IRS contends that Hatch owes back
taxes on his $1 million prize when he won the first edition of Survivor in 2000. He's also accused of not
paying taxes on other income that year and of using money on himself that he had set aside for a charity.Hatch's lawyer argued that the producers of Survivor made a deal with his client to pay taxes on his win when he caught the other castaways eating unauthorized food. But, Hatch never actually testified to that claim while he was on the stand. As for the $25,000 he was supposed to give to charity, Hatch had 3 explanations. First, he said that he put the checks in his own bank account since his charity didn't have an account. He also blamed the credit union for actually writing the checks to him, but a bank teller refutes Hatch's story. And he says the charity money he spent on renovations on his home was legit since he runs his charity, a wilderness retreat for troubled kids, out of the home. Survivor executive producer Mark Burnett testified that Hatch, just like every other Survivor contestant, signed an agreement that he would be responsible for the taxes on any winnings.
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