PANAMA CITY, Fla., April 6 (UPI) -- "Girls Gone Wild" guy Joe Francis was avoiding Florida where a judge wants him jailed for not settling a suit by underage girls claiming he videotaped them.
Ronn Torossian, a spokesman for Mantra Films -- which produces the titillating videotapes -- said Francis was in the United States after U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak imposed a Thursday deadline in Panama City, Fla. However, the spokesman said, Francis wouldn't be in Florida soon, the (Panama City) News-Herald reported Friday.
Smoak denied a motion by Francis' attorneys that he stay his contempt order. They sought an emergency stay from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Torossian accused Smoak of "extortion" in the civil case, the newspaper said.
"This is a case of judges gone wild," he said. "To threaten someone with jail over a civil case is unheard of."
Francis, of Los Angeles, was sued by the girls who claimed they were victimized by being filmed in sexual situations during 2003 spring break in Panama City Beach.
Smoak originally found Francis in contempt for a March 21 outburst during a mediation session. The judge suspended his order when a settlement seemed imminent, but reinstated it Wednesday when talks broke down.
