JOE FRANCIS - FRANCIS LOSES BID TO DELAY TAX TRIAL

FRANCIS LOSES BID TO DELAY TAX TRIAL

Embattled adult filmmaker JOE FRANCIS can no longer delay his tax evasion trial after a judge turned down his bid to push back proceedings.
The Girls Gone Wild creator is facing up to ten years behind bars over two counts of tax evasion amid allegations he filed a fraudulent return worth $20 million (£14 million).
Francis has repeatedly asked to adjourn the case, and was even placed under house arrest after missing a previous court hearing.
But the federal judge overseeing the case has overruled Francis' request for additional time - insisting the trial will start on 17 October (09).
In a ruling obtained by RadarOnline.com, Judge James Otero writes: "Since the filing of the action in April 2007, trial has been continued (delayed) six times at Mr Francis' request. Most recently, the Court continued the trial from August 17, 2009 to October 14, 2009 in response to Mr Francis' request for a one to two month continuance, and confirmed with both Mr Francis and the Government that the new date was acceptable before setting it."
It's more legal woe for Francis - he is suing three former employees he claims tried to embezzle his cash, and he is also under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for an altercation with Brody Jenner's girlfriend, Jayde Nicole, outside a nightclub last month (Aug09).