Survivor Reality TV
By: Veronica Kettler
Richard Hatch Fails to Pay Taxes
Oh, come on Mr. Hatch, you know those tax dollars goes back to the community, that is why you created the foundation Horizon Bound to help troubled youth, right?
The prosecutors also indict Richard Hatch for mendaciously using money donated to his charitable foundation, Horizon Bound, an outdoors program he planned to open for troubled youth. He purportedly spent the money on expenses which included tips to a limousine driver, dry cleaning and a large sum of money on home improvements.
How far does playing stupid get us?
Richard Hatch, who won $1 million in the first season of “Survivor,” was found guilty of failing to pay taxes on his prize jackpot. Mr. Hatch testified that he thought the shows producers were expected to pay his “Survivor” taxes; and said the donations he took from his charity were far less than the money he had already poured into it.
Now for all the back stabbing, two-faced and deceitful doings that made him the baddie on Survivor, Which won him the million dollars; then perhaps some of that reality TV turned to be Reality. Needless to say, he is loathed by the viewers to this present day.
Did one million dollars leak into his bank account mercilessly somehow? You would think he would have noticed, right? What did he think the studio gave him a huge tip? Now it gets even more stupid, he was also convicted of evading taxes for $327,000 he earned co-hosting at a Boston radio show, and $28,000 in rent property.
I really doubt that he is a flight risk, although U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres had him taken into custody. He was acquitted of seven bank, mail and wire fraud charges.
Even is own lawyer raised an eyebrow at his failure to pay taxes. Surely it must be the dumb gets dumber.
During trial Minns told jurors that Hatch, was the “worlds worst bookkeeper” and said that is client never meant to do nothing wrong.
Gosh, are they buying this crap, he is obviously smart enough to scheme his way to win on Survivors but too stupid to know how the 1 million got into is bank account, of course we are still assuming here that he expected the producers to pay the taxes for that amount. You would think it would be an easy calculation taxes minus winnings leaves you with a lot left over.
Nearly over a year ago prosecutors offered him a deal: plead guilty on two counts of tax evasion and they would recommend less than the maximum 10-year sentence.
Evading taxes is a crime, but to take up jail space for it, not worth it. There are far too many criminals out there committing violent crimes that get less than he might possibly get.
Evading taxes is the same as changing your title on your house to another holders name and quitting your job so you can apply for bankruptcy.
How about 5 years of volunteer work for the troubled youth, a course in accounting, plus a book in “Accounting for Dummies” and excel spreadsheets. Pay back his taxes, and his fine. This should leave him enough left over to have a roof over his head, and let’s add another 2 years of community work. Can he survive this one?
Veronica MARIE KETTLER is Editor-in-Chief for She Unlimited Magazine. http://www.sheunlimited.com and heads up the community at http://www.sheunlimited.com/forums.
Marie also contributes to various magazines and newspapers.
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