More Than 100 Warrants Served Against 'Girls Gone Wild' Crew

mycfnow ^

[chance33_98]

More Than 100 Warrants Served Against 'Girls Gone Wild' Crew

Posted: 1:06 a.m. EDT May 24, 2003 Updated: 1:23 a.m. EDT May 24, 2003

PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- More than 100 criminal warrants have been served against three companies, the creator of the "Girls Gone Wild" video series and a camera operator stemming from a film crew's spring break visit to the Florida Panhandle.

Producer Joe Francis, 30, of Las Vegas, voluntarily appeared Thursday to be processed on 22 charges stemming from his arrest on April 2 with three employees. They were arrested at nearby Panama City Beach, one of the nation's leading spring break destinations, where they were filming videos.

The mail-order videos feature nudity and sexual activity. The charges include racketeering, procuring minors for sexual acts, filming minors engaged in sexual performances, and conspiracy to commit those offenses.

Francis also is facing drug and lewdness charges. A camera operator, Mark D. Schmitz, 26, also is facing similar charges. Both are free on bond.

Also charged are Francis' company, Mantra Films Inc., Aero Falcons LLC and MRA Holding LLC. The companies each face about 20 charges.

Mantra has disputed the charges, contending crews always ask young women their age and film only those who say they are 18 or older.

The charges are based largely on about 175 hours of tapes Bay County sheriff's deputies seized during a raid at a condominium rented by the "Girls Gone Wild" staff.

State Attorney Jim Appleman said only about half the footage has been viewed so far and it could take three more weeks to complete the investigation. He said more charges could be filed. The challenge for investigators is to identify females on the videos and verify their ages, he said.

They have been doing that by determining when the footage was taken, figuring which colleges were on spring break then and contacting the schools, Appleman said.

Circuit Judge Dedee Costello signed an order Wednesday returning a business jet owned by Aero Falcons and leased to Mantra that deputies seized April 2.

The investigation began after a 16-year-old girl told her parents that she and four friends had been videotaped performing sexual acts at a hotel. Deputies said they searched six rooms and found pornographic footage of five local girls, all 16 or 17 years old.

[buffyt]

Well, it is about time! I saw these kids flashing when we were in New Orleans for spring break last year - my husband had a conference to go to there. The girls were drunk and didn't know what they were doing. Later, when they were sober, they probably found out they were stars of videos. I saw them taking off some of their clothes, and almost making love on the sidewalks. One couple's friends were trying to pull them apart and drag them off - they looked like dogs in heat! They all looked like high school and college kids.

I hope some kids realize what is at risk and they stop getting drunk in public places. They always end up in trouble that way! But the video makers are also taking advantage of these stupid drunk kids.

[Camel Joe]

I'm sure it will take the little pervs at least three more weeks to "view" the evidence.

[Teacher317]

State Attorney Jim Appleman said only about half the footage has been viewed so far and it could take three more weeks to complete the investigation.

The police are reporting a severe shortage of policemen willing to view the tapes.

[Servant of the Nine]

Well, it is about time! I saw these kids flashing when we were in New Orleans for spring break last year - my husband had a conference to go to there.

Girls were flashing for beads in New Orleans before the video camera was invented.
They have been flashing the crowd at spring break for at least 40 years.
This guy didn't cause it, he merrely documented it for a profit. The idea that he should be liable because girls lied to him about their age is preposterous. The girls should be liable for commercial fraud.

So9

[Bringbackthedraft]

"The police are reporting a severe shortage of policemen willing to view the tapes." Shouldn't that be a "?" ?

[Teacher317]

forgot the humor/sarcasm tag

[gunnedah]

I beg to disagree they were drunk and did not know what they were doing, The alcohol just help them lose their inhibitions.
Excuses for ones mental lapses and recklessness are too common in America and we use excuses to cover for our short comings and I do not exclude myself or loved ones. This type blame game has gone on for too long and has helped those in the world lose any morals we may have had.
Those filming should be prosecuted if they led it on or contributed to it but if it were done in public without their aid or encouragement they shouldnt even be prosecuted no matter how detestable.
Heck, you see and hear worse on TV daily.
I am basing this on the advertisement I have seen, I have never looked at the actual film.

[Beacon Falls]

What a country. Girls have been going wild for as long as I can remember,thankfully.

So lets see, a bunch of guys have the nuts to actually take pictures of what these kids would be doing anyway.

Next they profit from it all.

Somehow the parents get hold of it all, odd.

What a great idea this was, I wish I did it first and had a jet and stuff now. Dude.

The fact is that the police and courts should have a better way of spending our money and thier time than babysitting a bunch of horny kids.

I thought that was the parents job.

[HighWheeler]

The company should simply change the name of the tapes to "Girls Gone Artistic Expression" and play Mozart in the background. Who is going to prosecute their taping of artistic free expression? < /sarcasm>

[Oldeconomybuyer]

When I was in college we would spend our Spring Break doing community service. /bs

[Notwithstanding]

We protect minors. That is why bars have to ask people for ID before serving them - they can't just ask "are you 21?".

Minors, by definition, cannot consent to the extent an adult can. The law recognizes their right to 18 or 21 years to develop sound judgment before the law presumes they have it (of course many never end up posessing sound judgment no matter how aged they become).

[freedumb2003]

>>I am basing this on the advertisement I have seen, I have never looked at the actual film<<

You don't even have to do that. Just watch the "Cops" episodes that were filmed during Mardi Gras! Talk about bimbos on patrol!

[iconoclast]

Well, it is about time!

That was EXACTLY the first thought that occurred to me!

This bizarre piece of Americana is the best example of the fruits of free-market-worshipping, libertarianism that I can imagine.

[Servant of the Nine]

We protect minors. That is why bars have to ask people for ID before serving them - they can't just ask "are you 21?".

We have a specific law making an alcoholic beverage dealer responsible for verifying the age of their customer.
Pornographers who pay their actors must verify the ages of their employees. That is employment law.
Unless there is a specific law making a photographer responsible for verifying the age of the people he photographs, he can reasonably rely on their word.

If you don't like it, try to get a law passed.

Just what the World needs, another law governing personal behavior.

So9

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"I beg to disagree they were drunk and did not know what they were doing, The alcohol just help them lose their inhibitions."

What about personal responsibililty and accountability for one's own actions? Were they forced to get drunk or was getting dressed up and getting drunk a personal decision?

[Servant of the Nine]

This bizarre piece of Americana is the best example of the fruits of free-market-worshipping, libertarianism that I can imagine.

Which alternative do you prefer?
Socialism, or Bill Clinton's "Third Way"?

So9

[prisoner6]

I scanned this entire thread and couldn't find pictures or a link to the video. I want to see the evidence...maybe several times...before I can decide for myself.

prisoner6

[mj1234]

I hope they get 20 years -- they go after young intoxicated
women and men- and I am sure some are under age.

Now if they could just arrest the producers of Jerry Springer maybe we will get back to some sanity.

(BTY-Jerry Spinger has allowed known child/pimps couples
to come on his program- violates alot of transporting
interstate minor prostitution charges.I would love to
see them doing time.

[nmh]

With all these charges, why aren't the perverts in jail? Raise the bail HIGH to they can't continue this disgusting trash.