Joe Francis to Remain in Reno Jail

RENO, Nev. — After a Tuesday release, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis has chosen to remain in jail, his lawyer said, in order to avoid another jail sentence — without bail — for new charges in Florida, where he previously served time for contempt of court.

Francis was relocated to the Nevada jail last month after a federal judge ruled that his $20 million tax-fraud charges took precedence over those he had been held for at the time in Florida. In April, Francis turned himself in to Panama City, Fla., officials to serve his 35-day sentence.

Francis' defense lawyer, David Houston, told the Associated Press that Francis' attorneys decided the adult producer should stay in Reno after learning of new decisions made by the Florida judge.

Florida Circuit Judge Dedee Costello refused bail to Francis Tuesday on his 2003 charge of using minors in his videos, and has ordered Francis also be charged with possession of a controlled substance, as well as possession of contraband. In April, Francis was discovered carrying prescription sleeping pills while serving his Florida sentence at Bay County Jail.

Houston said he called off Francis' bail post of $1.5 million, which had been posted Tuesday.

"If I post [bail], Francis goes to Florida, and it took us a month to get him here," Houston said. "There's no reason for me to want to send him back to that environment. We had hoped he'd be out today."

Kevin Mercuri, a press representative for Francis, told XBIZ that Francis has not yet made an official statement regarding his decision to stay in Reno.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Penthouse Names Madiiitay as October's 'Pet of the Month'

Penthouse Magazine has named Seattle content creator and professional modeling newcomer Madiiitay as Pet of the Month for October.

Wendy Marvell, Shadow Dimitri Make Their Immoral Debuts

Wendy Marvell and newly crowned XMA Europe Male Performer of the Year Shadow Dimitri have made their debuts for Immoral Productions alongside Marvell's husband Matt Bird, Irish Bull, John Price, and studio honcho "Porno Dan" Leal.

Ofcom Cites Web Prime, Porntrex for Alleged AV Violations

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Tuesday notified two operators of adult websites of the agency’s provisional determination that the companies have failed to comply with provisions of the Online Safety Act.

Mick Blue Tops TT5 Podium at NASA Championships

Mick Blue took first place this past weekend in the national Time Trial 5 (TT5) race at the 2026 NASA Championships at Sebring International Raceway.

FSC: Utah Excise Tax on Adult Content Goes Into Effect October 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued an advisory that the Utah Excise Tax goes into effect tomorrow.

Alison Rey Makes Her Studio Anal Debut

Alison Rey has performed her first anal alongside Small Hands in the latest release from Adult Time, directed by Casey Calvert.

Rachael Cavalli Leads Latest From Bellesa Plus

Rachael Cavalli stars alongside August Skye and multi-XMAs winner Vince Karter in the latest release from Bellesa Plus, titled “Double-Booked.”

Elegant Angel Releases All-Star Orgy From '2026 Performers of the Year'

Elegant Angel has released an all-star orgy from the 2026 edition of its annual series "Performers of the Year."

Anissa Kate Reflects on 15 Years in the Spotlight and a New Life in L.A.

Anissa Kate has made some unique memories over the course of her 15-year career in the adult industry. She fondly remembers shooting under the starry skies of the Nevada desert, and spending the night in the middle of nowhere because the shoot was scheduled to resume early in the morning to catch the sunrise.

Show More