Joe Francis Case Closed After Girl Goes Missing
Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
Joe Francis' legal docket has gone mild.
Just two weeks after closing the books on federal tax-dodging charges, the Girls Gone Wild guru skated on a charge of misdemeanor sexual battery after prosecutors informed the court they were unable to locate his accuser.
“We informed the judge today that we were unable to proceed because we were not able to contact either the victim or the witness," Los Angeles City Attorney spokesperson Frank Mateljan tells E! News. "The judge dismissed the case.”
According to the 18-year-old woman who filed the complaint a year ago, Francis groped her breasts, buttocks and inner thighs—despite her repeated requests for him to stop—after meeting at a swanky Hollywood party. Not only couldn't prosecutors find the young woman, they couldn't find the person who originally corroborated the tale.
Francis' attorney, Mark Werksman, has steadfastly denied his client ever had contact with the partygoer.
"It was based on lies and exaggerations by a girl who claims to have been at a dinner party where there were 20 other people, and Joe has no recollection of meeting or seeing her there," the lawyer told E! News. "Joe is a celebrity who is an inviting target for outrageous claims and allegations, and this one was properly rejected by the authorities."
If convicted, Francis could have faced up to six months in the slammer.
—Additional reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum
The Big Picture
Happy Meal Katherine Heigl and her crew have a bit of fun while grabbing some fast food
More PhotosMost Commented
- Bitch-Back! Breaking News—Johnny's a Hottie (969)
- Twilight Rewind: Hot Dish From the Cast Last Year! (798)
- Costars and Suits Give Robsten Their Blessings! (650)
- Blab Blab Blab: Is Twilight Sexist? (552)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (478)
- Is New Moon Even Good? (452)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (440)
- Bitch-Back! What's Brad Got to Do With It? (426)
- Is Ugly Betty Ending? And Who Gets the Girl? (408)
- Ridiculous Twilight Hookups in an "All Taken" Cast (348)
Top 10 Stories
- Taylor Swift Tops Even Michael Jackson at American Music Awards
- New Moon Makes a Lot of Money (But Not Quite Batman Money)
- Jon (Plus Flowers) & Kate Reunite to Put Finishing Touches on Divorce
- New Moon Eclipses Dark Knight!
- Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray & More Continue Singing Oprah's Praises
- Michael Jackson's Doc Shipped Propofol From Vegas to L.A., Records Show
- Unleashed Fangirls Derail Justin Bieber Appearance
- Miley Cyrus' Tour Bus in Deadly Crash
- Good News for Miley: She's Officially Not a Racist
- New Moon's "Absolutely Freakish" Debut
Fashion Police
Green With Envy?Not quite, but we do give Kristen props for this shot of color during her New Moon press tour
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
4 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 4 comments
Now loading...