Girls Gone Wild founder gets jail time

from yahoo

By MELISSA NELSON, Associated Press Writer Mon Apr 23, 6:13 PM ET

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.

it doesnt mention the part where he is in a cell with a cop killing psycho whos on death row and is making the dudes life a living hell.

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Originally Posted by GnArKiLL

it doesnt mention the part where he is in a cell with a cop killing psycho whos on death row and is making the dudes life a living hell.

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Is he really or are you kidding?

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Originally Posted by Amelia G

Is he really or are you kidding?

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nope, he really is

http://www.wwtdd.com/post.phtml?pk=2183

WOW.. The punishment definetly does not fit the crime

the guy was in jail for like, what a month? for all the ilegal shit this guy has done? big deal.

Yeah i'm sure he'll be full of anxiety when hes out rolling around in his hottub full of 100 dollar bills