To survive the next round, better keep your clothes on
Richard Hatch, who won $1 million in the first season of “Survivor,” was found guilty Wednesday of failing to pay taxes on those winnings and other earnings.
He was handcuffed and taken into custody after a U.S. District Judge said he was a potential flight risk.
Hatch, 44, faces up to 13 years in prison and a fine of $600,000.
Besides the tax charges, prosecutors accused Hatch of using money donated to his charitable foundation, Horizon Bound – an outdoors program he planned to open for troubled youth – on expenses including tips to a limousine driver, dry cleaning and home improvements.
His lawyer told the judge outside the jury’s presence last week that Hatch, infamous for going naked during his “Survivor” stint, had caught fellow contestants cheating and struck a deal with the show’s producers to pay his taxes if he won.
When he testified, Hatch said only that he thought the producers were paying the taxes, but didn’t say anything about the allegations of cheating.
Barrels of no fun
Rapper Cassidy has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault in the ambush of a man who had argued with his friends.
Cassidy, 23, was grossly negligent for supplying the guns – including an assault rifle – that killed Desmond Hawkins and wounded two of his companions, a judge ruled. He was sentenced to up to 23 months in prison.
“You could be a leader in the community,” the judge said. “All those guns – that’s why Desmond is gone now, because of all those guns.”
Copping out
Victor Willis, the original policeman in ‘70s disco band the Village People, skipped a court hearing Tuesday where he was due to be sentenced on drug and gun charges and now faces more than three years in prison.
Willis, 54, faced a maximum of 16 months in prison after pleading no contest to charges he had cocaine and a loaded handgun when he was arrested in July. He was on probation for another cocaine conviction at the time.
His case was featured on the television crime show “America’s Most Wanted” in December. The segment is scheduled to re-air in February.
Billions and billions
Donald Trump is suing New York Times reporter Timothy O’Brien and Warner Books Inc., claiming their “TrumpNation: The Art of Being Donald” defamed him by vastly understating his fortune.
Trump, whose net worth is estimated at $2.6 billion by Forbes magazine, says he confirmed to O’Brien and Warner that his net worth was in the billions of dollars, not $150 million to $250 million as alleged in the book.
He’s seeking $2.5 billion in compensatory damages and $2.5 billion in punitive damages.
Man in the mirror?
Pop star Michael Jackson was spotted shopping in a Bahrain mall on Wednesday in a veil and black robe traditionally worn by women.
Jackson, who appears to be settling in the Persian Gulf, stirred controversy in November by entering the ladies room in a Dubai shopping mall.
His publicist said Jackson did not understand the Arabic sign on the door and left when he realized his mistake, but local newspapers reported that he was seen applying makeup before leaving.
The birthday bunch
Actor Paul Newman is 81. Sports announcer/actor Bob Uecker is 71. Actor David Strathairn is 57. Singer Lucinda Williams is 53. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen is 51. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres is 48. Gospel singer Kirk Franklin is 36.