'Gone Wild' creator Francis gets probation

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- "Girls Gone Wild" video creator Joe Francis will serve one year of probation for felony bribery and misdemeanor tax evasion, a judge said in Los Angeles.

The Reno (Nev.) Gazette Journal reported Saturday that U.S. District Judge James Otero sentenced Francis to a year of federal probation and time served after the video entrepreneur pleaded guilty to one bribery count and two tax evasion counts.

Francis, 36, was accused of attempting to bribe three jail staff members in Washoe County, Nev., in return for food and special privileges while he was incarcerated.

The creator of the nudity-flashing "Girls" videos also was accused of under-reporting his income in 2003 by more than $500,000.

In addition to his probation sentence, Francis was ordered Friday to pay the Internal Revenue Service nearly $250,000 in back taxes, interest and restitution, as well as a $10,000 fine.

The Gazette Journal said Francis alleges his former accountant is the individual truly responsible for his financial troubles.

"I have asserted my innocence on the felony charges against me in this matter for two years," he said in a statement. "I accept responsibility for that. I trusted people who turned out to be crooks."