'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Gets Jail Time!

$corp · Apr 24, 2007

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070423/ap_on_re_us/girls_gone_wild

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Blowing his nose and wiping away tears, the multimillionaire founder of the "Girls Gone Wild" video empire pleaded guilty to contempt of court Monday and was sentenced to 35 days in jail.

Joe Francis, who was sued by seven women who were minors when filmed, apologized to the judge for yelling at the plaintiffs during settlement talks.

"I am sorry for my behavior. It was wrong. I had heard about appeals and things and I was confused. I am sorry, I really am," said Francis, 34.

Francis drew the contempt charge during negotiations to settle the federal lawsuit brought after his production company filmed the women at Panama City Beach in 2003.

Attorneys for the women said Francis, who makes a reported $29 million a year taping topless women for his videos, lost his temper in negotiations and yelled obscenities at them.

U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak ordered Francis to settle the case or go to jail for contempt of court. When talks fell through, Francis lashed out at Smoak in the media, calling him a "judge gone wild" and questioning the judge's authority to order a settlement.

Smoak had ordered Francis to surrender to U.S. marshals by April 5 and begin serving time on the contempt charge. He did not return to Panama City from his California home until April 10, when authorities met him at the airport.

Francis has since reached an undisclosed settlement with the seven women. Francis had told The Associated Press that they wanted $70 million to settle the case.

Francis has said the women lied about their ages.

His attorney, Jan Handzlik, said being in jail had changed his client.

"He is a different man. Undoubtedly he is a different man," he said.
Click to expand...

Will he make "Inmates Gone Wild - On My Ass"?

oldfella1962 · Apr 24, 2007

Is he doing the month in California or Panama City? Location will be a huge factor in how bad it will be.

$corp · Apr 26, 2007

Now that I've looked at this closer, it does seem to be a case of entrapment. The girls lied about their age so that they could get in front of the camera to pose topless, then sued Joe Francis? It seems someone is digging for a little gold in this case.

oldfella1962 · Apr 26, 2007

Maybe the girls were in the wrong, but his BEHAVIOR IN COURT is what got him jail time. You can't disrespect the judge, period.

Uncle Albert · Apr 26, 2007

Imagining what those "negotiations," were like, I probably woulda lost my temper, too.

gul · Apr 26, 2007

Francis, who makes a reported $29 million a year taping topless women for his videos
Click to expand...

Hell, I'd take his job for a lot less than that. Most guys would pay to see as much titty as he does.

The teen flashers deserve a thousand bucks and a public flogging, nothing more or less. Francis, however, does need to serve time for the reason Oldfella cites.

Order2Chaos · Apr 26, 2007

Will he make "Inmates Gone Wild - On My Ass"?
Click to expand...

Nah, I imagine the inmates won't mind someone who's provided so much to the world.

Log in or Sign up

'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Gets Jail Time!

$corp Dirty Old Chinaman

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

$corp Dirty Old Chinaman

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Uncle Albert Part beard. Part machine.

gul Revolting Beer Drinker Administrator Formerly Important

Order2Chaos Ultimate... Immortal Administrator

Log in or Sign up

'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Gets Jail Time!

$corp Dirty Old Chinaman

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

$corp Dirty Old Chinaman

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Uncle Albert Part beard. Part machine.

gul Revolting Beer Drinker Administrator Formerly Important

Order2Chaos Ultimate... Immortal Administrator

Useful Searches