Richard Hatch finally walks free from jail

Richard Hatch, reality-television’s pre-eminent bad-boy, received his ‘Get Out of Jail’ card yesterday, walking free from the Barnstable County Jail in Bourne, Massachusetts, just before 6.00am local time.

Hatch, 48, who was indicted in September of 2005 on charges of failing to pay federal income tax on the $1-million he received as 200′s winner of CBS’s ‘Survivor’  received a 48-month sentence on January 5 of 2006. The Judge then added another three months when it was proven that Hatch had lied on the stand.

Although his confinement is over, the former Realtor now faces another three years of court supervision, cannot leave his home state of Rhode Island without asking permission and must maintain regular contact with his probation team. Currently without work he is also required to secure a new occupation and must join and complete a mental health program.

First released early this year to serve out his sentence under legal confinement at the home of his sister, the sweet taste of freedom soon soured when Hatch gave three interviews, to NBC’s ‘Today’ show, ‘Access Hollywood‘ and a local NBC shingle, in at least two of which he bad-mouthed the Judge.

Within 48-hours, the Bureau of Prisons had him dragged back to jail.

Dubbed “the fat, naked guy.” by David Letterman for his curious habit of getting naked on Survivor on the slightest pretext, the now former felon has often requested the courts to allow him to relocate to Argentina, the birthplace of his partner, but these requests were denied. He also requested to travel abroad for a reunion show, but they nixed those plans too.

The terms governing this current release require Mr. Hatch to refile his 2000 and 2001 tax returns with somewhat more accurate math, and to pay all his back taxes – At once.

Will this time be the charm? We shall soon see…