Maker of ‘Girls Gone Wild’ videos arrested by federal marshals
“Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis was arrested by federal marshals Tuesday in Panama City, Fla., to face a contempt-of-court citation.
Francis, 34, a Santa Monica-based multimillionaire who has made a fortune selling risque videos of scantily clad women, was arrested at the Panama City Bay County International Airport. U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak in Florida had issued a warrant for Francis’ arrest last week after he failed to surrender.
The order followed a last-minute breakdown in talks to settle a civil lawsuit filed by seven young women who alleged that they were victimized by Francis’ film crews during filming in Florida in 2003. Smoak found Francis in contempt after plaintiffs’ lawyers complained that Francis had shouted obscenities at their clients during settlement talks.
In response, Francis lashed out at Smoak, telling the Associated Press that he was a “judge gone wild.”
On Tuesday, Francis appeared before a federal magistrate in Panama City, where he pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. He will appear before Smoak at a hearing Thursday. A trial date has been set for April 23.
Francis faces one count of failing to surrender and one count of making false statements and misrepresentations to the court.
“This matter should be resolved between Mr. Francis and his company on one side and the plaintiffs on the other,” said Francis lawyer Jan L. Handzlik, who is appealing the judge’s order. “To put the pressure of criminal proceedings on Mr. Francis is in our view unconscionable.”
Handzlik said he was confident that a settlement could be reached.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Larry Selander declined to comment.
At an emergency hearing two weeks ago, a lawyer for the plaintiffs told Smoak that he thought the case was resolved but then learned Francis had changed the offer, making it unacceptable to his clients.
A mediator said Francis insisted on a payment plan that would stretch over several years.
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