Joe Francis Pleads Guilty on Contempt Charge, Gets 35 Days

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis pleaded guilty to contempt of court and was sentenced to 35 days in jail in a U.S. District Court hearing today.

The 35-day sentence includes 14 days Francis has already served waiting for the hearing.

The contempt charge is based on Francis' failure to settle a federal civil suit brought by seven women who were minors when he videotaped them in 2003. U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak had ordered Francis to settle the suit or face contempt charges, and was arrested April 10 after negotiations had fallen through and Francis attacked the judge in the media, calling him a "judge gone wild."

The civil case has been reportedly settled for an undisclosed amount.

Francis is still facing legal problems in Florida, Nevada and California.

In Florida he is accused of trying to bribe a jail guard, and a federal court in Reno, Nev., indicted Francis on charges that his companies claimed more than $20 million in false business expenses, and that Francis improperly concealed income. In California, his probation on a federal case involving 2257 violations could be endangered because of his recent problems in Florida.

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Yhivi, Chanel Chance Lead Latest From Transfixed

Yhivi and Chanel Chance star in the latest release from Transfixed, titled "An Unexpected Craving."

Penny Barber Stars in Latest From Kink.com

2025 XMAs MILF Performer of the Year Penny Barber stars with Peter Hooke in the latest installment of Kink.com's "Divine Bitches" series, titled “Earning His Freedom.”

Pornhub Unblocks UK Users on iOS Devices, Citing Apple AV Effectiveness

Pornhub parent company Aylo on Tuesday announced that users in the United Kingdom will once again be able to access the popular site if they are using Apple devices and have confirmed their age through Apple’s U.K. age-verification process.

Penthouse Names Hannah Jo May's 'Pet of the Month'

Penthouse Magazine has named Hannah Jo as Pet of the Month for May.

North Carolina Weighing Tax on Brick-and-Mortar Sales of Adult Material

The North Carolina state legislature is considering a bill that would impose a new 10% tax on adult material sold by physical retailers in the state.

Nia Bleu Fronts Latest From New Sensations

Nia Bleu stars with Damon Dice in the latest release from New Sensations.

Kitana Collins Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Kitana Collins has made her debut for Vixen Media Group studio imprint WIFEY alongside her husband, Tyson, and Anton Harden.

Utah VPN Rule for Adult Sites Takes Effect This Week

A new law in Utah comes into force Wednesday, making adult websites liable if minors in the state circumvent geolocation efforts to bypass age verification.

Lilly Bell Takes Center Stage in May Issue of X3 Magazine

Multi-XMAs award-winner Lilly Bell captures the cover spotlight in the May issue of X3 magazine, the premier publication revealing the real personalities, passions and stories behind top stars.

Show More