In second day, 'Survivor' trial focuses on charity

PROVIDENCE, R.I. --A charity bank account that should have held thousands of dollars had less than $200, the former live-in boyfriend of "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch testified Friday in the reality TV star's tax fraud trial.

Mark Ranslem of Boston, who lived with Hatch from October 2001 to May 2002 and helped run Hatch's charity, Horizon Bound, said he saw a bank statement for the charity in early 2002, more than a year after a television production company contributed $25,000 to it.

"It was nothing more than just a small amount in there, probably just to keep the account open," he said.

Hatch, 44, is accused of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million prize he received for winning the first season of the hit CBS reality show, as well as on other income. He is also accused of misusing money given to Horizon Bound.

Hatch has said he wanted Horizon Bound to give troubled teenagers a chance to experience the wilderness, but the charity never ran any trips under his supervision, despite raising tens of thousands of dollars.

Prosecutors showed jurors a copy of the $25,000 check, which Hatch altered to add his name after the name of the charity. The check was for work Hatch did on a pilot for a TV show, "For Goodness Sake!"

Donna Manning, a manager for Newport Federal Savings Bank, testified that Hatch initially deposited the check by ATM into his personal account, but the bank did not clear it because it was written out to Horizon Bound.

Later, Hatch added his name as a payee and deposited it into his personal account at People's Credit Union in Middletown.

Hatch's lawyer, John MacDonald, said Hatch deposited the check in his own account because he was waiting to receive a taxpayer identification number for the charity from the federal government.

Hatch is expected to testify in his own defense. The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday with the prosecution calling more witnesses.