Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis was ordered to jail by a federal judge on Wednesday for contempt of court. According to a story in the News Herald, Francis has until noon on Thursday to turn himself in.
In 2003, Francis was sued by seven underage girls who appeared in his Girls Gone Wild video series. U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak found Francis in contempt of court last week for allegedly shouting at three of the female plaintiffs during a mediation in the case.
Smoak suspended his decision after learning that Francis had come to a mutually-agreed settlement with the plaintiffs. Lawyers for the plaintiffs then claimed that Francis changed the terms of his offer without their knowledge.
"He may have snookered us and gotten out Saturday," Smoak told The News Herald, "but he's coming back."
Smoak has now reinstated the civil contempt order, and said he is also considering starting a criminal contempt process.
The judge's order would place Francis in jail until a formal mediation session can be set up. Smoak also increased the amount of money Francis would have to pay to the plaintiffs' lawyers, The News Herald reported.
Francis was not available for comment at press time.
