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Francis -- Free from Florida!

Posted Mar 12th 2008 1:03PM by TMZ Staff

Joe Francis has just finished a court appearance in Panama City, Florida, and he's a free man, after agreeing to a plea deal that will keep him out of jail -- and sources tell TMZ that Joe will be back in L.A. as early as tonight.

TMZ has learned that Francis has plead no contest to the charges of filming underage girls, and has been sentenced to time served. What's more, "Girls Gone Wild" can't film in the area for three years. Bay County, we're told, will return Joe's brand new Ferrari, and $60,000 that they confiscated from him last year.

Joe tells TMZ, "I am happy to be done with Bay County." He's been battling these charges since 2003.

Story developing ...

Tags: Girls Gone Wild, GirlsGoneWild, Joe Francis, JoeFrancis

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Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 7) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. I was in his video a few years ago and had a blast!

Posted at 1:05PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Andy Farris Jr.

2. BOO! I bet we see him and Paris out partying by the weekend.

Posted at 1:07PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Kelli

3. COME TO ME BABY!!!!

Posted at 1:07PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Rough Daddy

4. Look out, drunk, worthless, self-hating, teenage airhead bimbo's!!

Posted at 1:08PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Why?

5. Who was the judge? Eliot Spitzer?

Posted at 1:10PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Trashman

6. Lock up your daughters!

Posted at 2:59PM on Mar 12th 2008 by tazmania

7. joe, remember to slather on the spf!

Posted at 1:11PM on Mar 12th 2008 by irene gracey, size 0

8. Hey Kelli! Now you got somethin to do besides blog all day! Your man is out, get your top off!

Posted at 1:12PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Sick of Kelli

9. good. he has been in jail for a long time, a lot of peole do a lot worse and never get stuck behind bars.

Not his fault if the girls lied about their age. He wouldn't be rich if people didn't buy his stuff. So whatever. I would totally cash in on the idea if i would have thought about

Posted at 1:12PM on Mar 12th 2008 by iowa girl

10. He nauseates me.

Posted at 1:13PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Tori

11. LOCK UP YOUR CHILDREN AND BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES, JOE IS COMING TO TOWN.

Posted at 1:14PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Lucy

12. Wow. Steep learning curve for him; he could possibly have been out months ago. Good for him for listening, and biting that bullet by posting bail and facing the charges. I wonder if he followed some good advice given by 'J' right here on TMZ. I hope better things for Joe in the future.

Posted at 1:15PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Get Out of Jail ( for a) Fee

13. I knew he would get off.

Posted at 1:19PM on Mar 12th 2008 by annoyed

14. I hope Joe thinks things through this time around. How much money
does one person need, anyhow? He could help as many people as expose
them if he found the right vehicle. I'm not holding my breath, but
stranger things have happened. On a personal note, Joe suits/looks
great with the longer hair, and has a bit more humbled look about him.

Posted at 1:20PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Discerning Female

15. My 19 year old daughter was in one of his videos. I make no excuses for what she did. She will have to live with it. But she realizes she made a mistake, and has to live with it everyday. It is embarrassing for our entire family, and my daughter has learned some hard lessons about life. I just have a problem with this guy making money off of vulnerable young women. Does he realize the damage some of the girls go through?

Posted at 1:20PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Mom

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