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 © 2025 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

Cherry Kiss Talks Perfectionism, Pressure and Loving the Grind

Cherry Kiss was en route to Exxxotica New Jersey when she learned she had received her green card. Fittingly, she had just landed at an airport in New York — home to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. After successfully navigating the naturalization process, which she describes as “hard work,” she felt grateful for the friends who helped her with all the paperwork, and has since been trying to pay it forward by helping other friends with their U.S. visa applications.

Elizabeth Skylar Stars in Christmas-Themed Elegant Angel Release

Elizabeth Skylar stars with Parker Ambrose in a scene from Elegant Angel titled “A Hotwife for Christmas.”

PASS Names 3 New Board Members

Performer Availability Screening Services (PASS) has named RubyLynne, Beth McKenna, and Kira Noir as new members of its board of directors.

Avery Lust, Ariel Demure Headlines 'TS Chronicles 2' From TransSensual

Avery Lust and reigning XMAs Trans Performer of the Year Ariel Demure topline “TS Chronicles 2” from Mile High Media studio imprint TransSensual.

Adriana Chechik Returns to Blacked Raw With Blake Blossom

Adriana Chechik and Blake Blossom star with Sheem in the latest release from Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint Blacked Raw.

Rocco Siffredi Makes On-Camera Return, Launches New Creator Platform

and he’s doing it in a way that reflects both his legacy and the creator-driven landscape shaping today’s market. His latest endeavor is built entirely around collaborations, an approach he says immediately energized him and clarified what this new chapter should look like.

Reagan Foxx Leads 'The Substance' Parody From MYLF

2023 XMAs MILF Performer of the Year Reagan Foxx stars in MYLF's ‘The Substance’ parody, titled “A Sluttier Version of Yourself.”

Jessi Rae Makes Her Deeper Debut

Vixen Media Group (VMG) exclusive Jessi Rae has made her debut for the studio's imprint Deeper, alongside multi-XMAs winner Isiah Maxwell in “Key Mistress.”

Angela White Fronts Latest From Brazzers

Multi-XMAs winner Angela White stars with Scott Nails in the latest release from Brazzers, “Run Club Rules.”

Richard Mann Drops New Evil Angel Scene With Mercy Muse

Mercy Muse stars in a new Evil Angel scene alongside director/performer Richard Mann.

Show More