JOE FRANCIS - ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR FRANCIS

ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR FRANCIS

Adult filmmaker JOE FRANCIS is wanted by Los Angeles authorities after failing to show up for a court hearing in his ongoing tax evasion case. The Girls Gone Wild creator was due to appear before a judge on Monday (02Feb09) after his legal team from Bernhoft Law Firm submitted a motion to withdraw as Francis' counsel against allegations he filed a fraudulent tax return worth $20 million (£14 million).
But he was a no-show at the courthouse and U.S. District Judge S. James Otero was forced to issue a warrant for Francis' arrest, according to Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Francis is scheduled to stand trial in March (09) and faces up to 10 years behind bars if convicted.