Joe Francis, the creator of “Girls Gone Wild,” is hiding a volatile temper behind his not at all creepy smile. He was just sentenced Tuesday to 270 days in jail, three years probation, a year of psychological counseling, and the completion of an anger management course, for attacking a woman who blocked him from seducing one of her friends.
Francis was convicted of three counts of false imprisonment, one of dissuading a witness from reporting, and one of assault causing great bodily injury, in an episode that took place Jan. 29, 2011.
“Whether a celebrity or not, you will be held accountable for your misdeeds,” said former City Atty. Carmen A. Trutanich at the time of his conviction. “The victims in this case should be commended for their courage in stepping forward and reporting these attacks, and for not being intimidated for seeing this matter through the justice system.”
The incident in question happened when Francis lead one of the women back to his limo. Believing he would give them rides to their cars, they followed, only for his driver and bodyguard to allegedly produce sheriff’s badges and not let them out of the limo. They ended up at his place, where he attempted to lead one of the women he was interested in away, only for her friend to stop him.
Francis then “jumped on the friend, took her to the ground, choked her, slammed her head against the ground, dragged her across the ground, and when she got back up, did it several more times,” said Deputy City Attorney Mitchell Fox.
When the women said they would call police, he yelled, “go ahead and call the police,” and he said that he “owns the police” and they would not arrest him.
That last point ended up not being the case, ultimately, and after he was convicted, he told The Hollywood Reporter that the jury that convicted him had members who were “retarded,” and “they should all be lined up and shot.” He also said the women were liars. How dare they suggest he has anger issues?
His attorney still plans on appealing the decision.