Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- He bared it all as the "Survivor" show's first star, and now Richard Hatch wants to get out of jail -- immediately.

The man America loved to hate for his cunning ways is asking U.S. District Court to clear him of his conviction for tax evasion and release him from federal prison. If not, he would like the court to order a retrial or hear new evidence about his arguments that he had poor legal representation and is, in fact, innocent.

In a 43-page motion filed this week, the former Newport resident argues, among other things, that he was picked to compete in the reality television show's first season because viewers would be compelled to watch his controversial style. Federal prosecutors exploited those characteristics, manipulating the court and the media, in what amounted to prosecutorial misconduct, he said. They relied on "prevailing prejudices to unjustly sacrifice the truth."

He compared them to Mike Nifong, the disgraced and disbarred North Carolina district attorney who pursued the Duke University rape case, he said.

Referring to himself in third-person, Hatch wrote that his media-concocted caricature as villainous and manipulative unfairly bled into legal proceedings, wielding unjust influence.

Hatch also took aim at former U.S. District Chief Judge Ernest C. Torres, questioning what motivated the judge's decision not to question prospective jurors about their views on homosexuality. Torres retired from the bench just last week.

His appearance before 54 million viewers on "Survivor" where he was portrayed as an openly gay and "unapologetically non-superstitious" set the stage for powerful bigotry and ignorance, he said.

Hatch, 47, is serving his sentence in a federal prison in Morgantown, W.Va. He won the first season of the seminal CBS show and became infamous as the cunning and openly gay contestant who competed in the nude.

In 2006, a jury in U.S. District Court, Providence, found Hatch guilty of not paying the taxes he owed on about $1.4 million, including the $1 million prize he collected for winning the first season of the reality show. He was convicted of filing false tax returns and given the maximum sentence allowed after Torres concluded that he had obstructed justice when he "willfully gave false testimony."

The 1st U.S. District Court of Appeals upheld his conviction for tax evasion and his 51-month sentence in February 2008 and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal.

 Tags  Judge Ernest C. Torres Newport RI Richard Hatch U.S. District Court

Comments

Just Go Away said:

Aside from Mr. Hatch, is there really anyone who still cares about this?

It is apparent that Mr. Hatch just wants the spotlight to be focused on HIM. He was found GUILTY. Now, he claims that "he had poor legal representation". Who picked the attorney?

Also, the fact that Mr. Hatch refers to himself in the third person throughout his motion can only lead one to believe that Mr. Hatch has lost his grip on reality.

What is really surprising is that Mr. Hatch waited this long to play the "homosexual bias" card.

Get over it, Mr. Hatch - you evaded paying income taxes on your winnings and you got caught. Serve your time and when you get out of prison, do us all a favor and JUST GO AWAY! Or, better yet, go to law school, pass the bar and sue CBS (defending yourself, of course). Then, when your case gets thrown out of court, try the "poor legal representation" claim again.

Link | March 26, 2009 5:44 PM
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anne2bill said:

Give me a break, the man "forgot" to add one million dollars to his 1040. Just another ploy on his part after all he was the first to shaft other players on that reality show. Poor representation my foot, who picked the lawyer in the first place. The man needs a grow up pill, suck it up and do the time then write a book about your ordeal. Maybe he just needs some cheese to go with his Whine..

Link | March 27, 2009 3:53 AM
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