On May 7, 2013, “Girls Gone Wild” creator Joe Francis was convicted after assaulting a woman in 2011. Francis was convicted on five misdemeanor counts—three counts of false imprisonment, one count of “dissuading a witness from reporting” and one count of assault, which caused great bodily injury. The incident happened at his home in Bel-Air. Francis faced up to five years for his crimes.
According to L.A. County prosecutors, in 2011, Francis invited three women into his limo, parked outside the hotspot Supperclub in Hollywood, Calif. At the time, the City Attorney’s spokesman said that the women believed they were getting a ride to their car and when they tried to exit the vehicle, the limo driver brandished a sheriff’s badge and refused to let them exit.
The City Attorney’s office also said that Francis got into a physical altercation after her brought the women back to his place. “[Francis] grabbed one of the women by the throat and hair and slammed her head into the tile floor four times.”
Prosecutors maintain that Francis let the women go but warned them not to call the cops.
Former Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said, “Whether a celebrity or not, you will be held accountable for your misdeeds. The victims in this case should be commended for their courage in stepping forward and reporting these attacks, and for not being intimidated from seeing this matter through the justice system.”
Following his conviction, Francis lashed out at the jury during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He shouted, “I want that jury to know that each and every one of you are mentally f—ing retarded and you should be euthanized because, as Darwin said, you have naturally selected yourself.”
Later, Francis apologized for his foul-mouthed rant: “I deeply regret the remarks attributed to me in the interview with The Hollywood Reporter. They were hurtful and do not reflect my true feelings. While I disagree with the jury’s verdict as I am completely innocent of the charges and intend to appeal, I was afforded a fair trial, and if I lose at the appellate level, I will reluctantly but fully accept the jury’s verdict.”
Additionally, Francis has been convicted of tax evasion, bribery, record-keeping violations and has pleaded no contest to child abuse and prostitution over the years.
