Lawyers want conviction of 'Survivor' winner upheld

Prosecutors urged a federal appeals court Friday to uphold the tax evasion conviction of "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch, saying he had an opportunity to testify about why he thought the show's producers would pay his taxes, but never took it.

Hatch was convicted last year of failing to pay taxes on the $1 million prize he won on the debut season of "Survivor." He was sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Hatch's lawyer says his client caught producers cheating by smuggling food to other contestants during taping of the show, and that they promised to pay his taxes if he won the competition. A CBS spokesman has said Hatch's claims have no merit.