What is with the winners of Survivor being idiots? First, Season One winner Richard Hatch somehow expected to get away with not paying taxes on his million dollar prize. He is facing jail time as a result (and for perjury about it). Now, Season Nine winner Chris Daugherty is in trouble with his employer for lying to get time off work to be on Survivor.

Chris Daugherty, 35, who won the ninth season of the CBS show, filed a false claim that he needed time off because he was under stress and suffering from depression, an Ohio Department of Transportation hearing officer ruled Thursday. He landed the $1 million prize in 2004 for "Survivor: Vanuatu -- Islands of Fire," but returned to his $34,000-a-year job with ODOT, working on roads in central Ohio.

"Daugherty's claim that he had an illness which just happened to coincide with his 'Survivor' tour is simply not credible," wrote ODOT chief investigator Les Reel. After his requests for time off were denied, he submitted a false doctor's excuse saying he was suffering from anxiety and depression and needed a month of medical leave, ODOT's investigation found. ODOT said Daugherty's initial requests were refused because he had already used all but 29 hours of his vacation days, sick leave and personal time. Officials said he even submitted a request for military leave -- despite never being in the armed services -- because the "Survivor" tour was scheduled to visit a military base in Germany.

ODOT officials said Daugherty acknowledged afterward to investigators that he used the time off to attend the CBS-sponsored "Survivor" tour in Germany and Italy last September 25 through October 8, for which he was paid $8,000. He took an additional two weeks off after the tour before returning to work, ODOT records show.

Yeah, they're probably not going to figure out what you were really up to, Chris. I mean, it's not like you were on A POPULAR TV SHOW ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. "Ummm...I need time off. I mean, I'm sick! I mean, I'm joining the army! No? Ok, I am flying to Portugal for a dentist's appointment because my dentist moved and he wouldn't let me cancel the appointment or he'll sue me for a million dollars...what do you mean you don't believe me?"