Richard Hatch, who won $1 million in the debut season of the reality show Survivor, was found guilty Jan. 25 of failing to pay taxes on his winnings and taken straight to jail, according to Advocate.com. He was also convicted of evading taxes on $327,000 he earned as co-host of a Boston radio show and $28,000 in rent on property he owned.
On the stand, Hatch said he thought that CBS, Survivor’s network home, was to pay the taxes on the earnings. Survivor creator Mark Burnett offered contrary testimony, saying Hatch signed a contract that stated he was responsible for answering to the Internal Revenue Service, according to EOnline.com.
Hatch remained calm as the court clerk read the verdict. He waved goodbye to family members, then was handcuffed and taken into custody after U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres said he was a potential flight risk.
After the hearing, the corporate trainer was deemed a flight risk, outfitted with a pair of metal bracelets and whisked from the courtroom to jail, according to EOnline.com. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 28. Hatch, 44, faces a maximum 13-year prison sentence and $600,000 fine.