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# Gone a touch too wild
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/gone-a-touch-too-wild/
- Published: 2007-04-25T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:37:57.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Girls Gone Wild founder gets jail time for contempt*

PANAMA CITY, FLA. Things are going to stay pretty mild for Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis over the next few weeks, after the Santa Monican was sentenced to 35 days in prison on Monday.

The 34-year-old millionaire has been held in custody at the Bay County Jail in Panama City since April 10 on federal charges of contempt of court.

Francis is famous for launching the Girls Gone Wild empire and making millions off videos featuring young coeds flashing their chests for the camera.

Prior to his arrest, Francis was in the process of settling a lawsuit brought forth by seven women who claimed they were underage when filmed in a Girls Gone Wild video in 2003\. A lawyer representing the seven women claimed that Francis became enraged during negotiations, causing a federal judge to order Francis to settle or to face time in jail.

Once negotiations failed, the judge slapped Francis with a contempt order.

Both parties have reached an agreement since then, though a dollar amount has not been disclosed.

> “However, we recognize Joe could’ve been sentenced as much as six months to a year on the two contempt charges, so 35 days is not as bad an outcome.” — Handzlik said on Tuesday. WE RECOGNIZE JOE COULD’VE BEEN SENTENCED AS MUCH AS SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR ON THE TWO CONTEMPT CHARGES SO 35 DAYS IS NOT AS BAD OUTCOME.” Jan Handzlik defense attorney for Joe Francis

> “We are disappointed by the sentence, hoping that Mr. Francis would’ve been released yesterday,”

The 35-day sentence includes time that Francis has served in prison since April 10\. He should be released in about 20 days, according to his defense attorney, Jan Handzlik of Los Angeles.

Following the completion of his federal sentence, however, Francis still faces legal ramifications from an incident in which he allegedly tried to bribe a prison guard with $500 for a bottle of water earlier this month.

On April 12, Bay County Sheriff ’s Department charged Francis with introducing contraband into a county detention facility, possessing a controlled substance and bribery of a public servant.

Francis allegedly offered a jail guard $100 for bottled water and when the guard refused, he upped the offer to $500\. It was then the corrections officer became suspicious, since inmates in custody are not allowed to carry cash.

A search of Francis’ cell turned up $700 in cash and loose sleeping and anti-anxiety pills for Lunesta, Alprazolam and Lorazepam.

Suspicious as to how he came in possession of the cash and pills, officials reviewed taped phone conversations that Francis had made since his arrest. In an April 11 call, Francis spoke to a person identified as “Scott” about receiving the cash and pills. He was later identified as Scott Barbour, the president of Mantra Films, which produces Girls Gone Wild. Authorities believe Barbour identified himself as an attorney in gaining access to Francis’ cell on April 12.

Barbour was also arrested and charged with introduction of a contraband on April 12.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 25, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/042507.pdf?ref=smdp.com)