"Survivor" winner seeks early release

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch wants a judge to release him from prison immediately. He is currently serving a four-year, three-month sentence for income tax evasion.

In a request filed in U.S. District Court in Providence Tuesday, Hatch argues he should be released because he is innocent, was poorly represented by his lawyers, and that a judge improperly calculated his prison sentence.

Hatch was found guilty of not paying taxes on the $1 million he won on the debut season of "Survivor."  Since his trial, he has claimed the show was rigged, saying he caught producers sneaking food to the other contestants.  He says the producers offered to pay his taxes on the winnings, when he confronted them about the cheating. CBS has denied Hatch's claims.

Prosecutors say they will respond to Hatch's request in the coming weeks.