PANAMA CITY, FL — Nouveau riche softcore millionaire Joe Francis is finding jail time somewhat different from the lifestyle he’s become accustomed to — and it looks like he’s likely to rely upon the kindness of common jailers for a little bit longer.Upon learning that he was being charged with bribing a jail guard for a bottle of water so that he could take the unauthorized prescription sleeping pills he had in his cell, Francis waived his right to a bond hearing for the contempt of court charge that had landed him in jail to begin with.
According to the Associated Press, the 34-year-old king of videotaped flashing titties told his parents “I didn’t do anything” and burst into tears as his mother blew him a federal courtroom kiss as he was led back to jail.
The new charges, bribing a public servant, three counts of possessing a controlled substance, and five counts of introducing contraband cash and drugs into a detention facility, are third-degree felonies that could earn him as many as five years in prison.
Court records claim that Francis offered a guard $100 if he would fetch bottled water for him. When his financial incentives failed to result in the requested beverage, Francis allegedly upped the price to $500. Upon inspection of his cell, supervisors located $700 in cash, as well as 16 prescription medications, including the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam and the sleeping aid Lunestra.
Bay County Sheriff’s Office representative Ruth Sasser told the press that Scott Barbour, president of Francis’ Mantra Films, Inc., was arrested yesterday on suspicion of having supplied his boss with the money and meds. His first scheduled court appearance was today.
Attorneys for the seven women with whom Francis was acrimoniously negotiating a settlement announced that they had reached an agreement on Thursday, although the details are currently unknown. Francis’ spokesman Ronn Torossian confirmed that a settlement had been reached, but provided no additional information.
The bribery and contraband charges are only the latest in a series of court decisions that have not gone in Francis’ direction this week. On Wednesday, he was indicted in a federal court in Reno, NV for claiming more than $20 million in false business deductions on the company’s 2002 and 2003 tax returns. Additionally, a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice indicated that Francis is believed to have used offshore bank accounts and entities owned by others in order to hide income during those same years.
It is estimated that Francis earns approximately $29 million per year from his Girls Gone Wild video series.
