Girls Gone Wild Guy Surrenders to Federal Marshals

So, in 2003 a guy in Florida filmed underage women exposing themselves (Which, I guess isn't against the law? That's odd.). A civil lawsuit was brought against him by seven of the women. For reasons not described by the article below, the case went to settlement.

Why didn't he let it go to trial if he's in the right? I'd guess it's because: a) settlement amounts can be kept private and b) he wanted to avoid setting a precedent, in case other filmed children decide to take action against him.

He just blew any hopes he had of keeping things quiet. He might be able to keep the settlement amount private, but anyone involved with his videos will now be watching this case. He apparently became so angry during settlement that he used threatening language and disobeyed a judge. From the story:

PENSACOLA, Florida (AP) -- The founder of the "Girls Gone Wild" video empire surrendered to federal marshals early Tuesday to face a contempt of court citation after initially defying a federal judge....

Francis, 34, makes an estimated $29 million a year from videos of young women baring their breasts and in other sexually provocative situations.

He drew the contempt citation during negotiations in a civil lawsuit brought by seven women who were underage when they were filmed by his company on Panama City Beach during spring break in 2003.

Lawyers for the women told U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak that Francis became enraged during the settlement talks, shouting obscenities at the lawyers and threatening to "bury them." Smoak ordered Francis to settle the case or go to jail for his behavior.

Negotiations continued with the help of a mediator, but broke down Thursday, and Smoak issued a contempt of court warrant.

Francis initially refused to surrender and called Smoak "a judge gone wild."

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta refused to let him remain free pending an appeal.

Francis had said Thursday he would settle the case to avoid jail time. "I'll give up a billion dollars, but it will be under duress," he said, arguing that any money given would be voided in an appeal.

He's sounds like another rich guy who broke the rules, is really angry that he got called on it, and now blames everyone but himself for his error. I'm sure his lawyers are working hard to come up with every reason under the sun why: a) he wasn't at fault for filming exposed children and b) that a monetary settlement is unwarranted.

Twenty nine million a year buys a ton of lawyers.