"Girls Gone Wild" Founder Charged with Several Misdemeanors

"Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis and his bodyguard have been charged with multiple misdemeanors, including false imprisonment, assault and impersonating a public officer, stemming from a physical altercation with three women in January of this year.

The three women met Francis at the Supper Club in Hollywood. As the club was closing, Francis allegedly took one of the women by the hand and led her to his limo. The other women also entered the limo, believing that they were getting a ride to their car. While in the limo, Francis' bodyguard allegedly produced a sheriff's badge and would not let the women exit. Once they were at Francis' home, a physical altercation ensued between Francis and two of the women, in which it was reported that Francis grabbed one of them by the throat and hair and slammed her head into the tile floor four times.

The women were escorted out of the house and told that a cab would not be called or paid for if they contacted police. Once they were in a cab, they called 911.

Francis faces three counts of false imprisonment, one count of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and one count of assault causing great bodily injury. His driver and bodyguard faces additional criminal counts of impersonating a public officer with intimidation and one count of fraudulently using a badge. If convicted of all counts, Francis faces up to five years in county jail and / or $13,000 in fines. His bodyguard could face up to six years.

If you, or someone you know has been charged with False Imprisonment, Dissuading a Witness, Impersonating a Public Officer or Assault, contact a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney today for a free consultation.