'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Joe Francis Pleads No Contest to Child Abuse, Prostitution Charges
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis pleaded no contest Wednesday to child abuse and prostitution charges in the spring break haven of Panama City.
Francis entered the pleas to settle the case that began when the series that shows women baring their breasts videotaped underage girls in 2003.
Judge Deede Costello sentenced Francis to 339 days in jail, but gave him credit for the last year he has spent in jail in Bay County and in Reno, Nev.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The action resolves the Florida criminal cases pending against Francis and allows him to remain out of jail on bond pending a federal tax evasion trial in Nevada.
"I am happy to be done with Bay County," Francis told TMZ.com.
He will be on six months' "non-reporting" probation, and "Girls Gone Wild" can't film in the area for three years, TMZ reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bay County will return Francis' brand-new Ferrari, and $60,000 that they confiscated from him last year, the Web site said.
Click here to read more at TMZ.com
Francis' lawyers had contended that the girls lied about their ages to an independent camera operator, and that none of the footage was used.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.