'Survivor' Winner Hatch Faces Jan. Trial

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ The man who won $1 million on the first ``Survivor'' show is facing a January trial date on tax evasion charges. U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres on Wednesday denied three

Friday, December 23rd 2005, 10:18 am

By: News On 6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ The man who won $1 million on the first ``Survivor'' show is facing a January trial date on tax evasion charges. U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres on Wednesday denied three motions filed by lawyers for Richard Hatch, the Newport man who sometimes competed naked on the CBS reality show.

According to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office, Hatch's lawyers had asked the judge to delay the trial and force federal prosecutors to divulge how much money Hatch supposedly owes the government.

Torres scheduled jury selection for Jan. 10.

A federal grand jury indicted Hatch in September on tax evasion, wire fraud and mail fraud charges. Prosecutors say Hatch failed to pay federal income tax on his $1 million ``Survivor'' prize and other income.

In addition to the tax charges, federal authorities said Hatch created a charity for troubled teenagers, then used donations for his personal expenses.

Hatch has repeatedly denied the charges.