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Joe Francis Arrested After Shoving A 'Girls Gone Wild' Employee

joefrancis.jpg
'Girls Gone Wild' founder Joe Francis presents an award during the 29th annual Adult Video News Awards Show in 2012 (Getty Images/Ethan Miller)

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Joe Francis, the skeevy creator of Girls Gone Wild, found himself back in jail last night after he returned to his old office and shoved an employee on the premises. Francis, who no longer oversees the porn empire he once founded at least since they filed for bankruptcy last year, has a restraining order that prevents him from coming within 100 feet of the building where GGW is housed. Joe Gone Wild!

The incident occurred last night around 7:30, when Francis entered the 10th story office of Girls Gone Wild and got into a physical altercation with the employee who was trying to prevent Francis from entering the office, according to TMZ. Sgt. Gary Levy of the LAPD's West Division told City News Service that Francis was intending to either retrieve or take pictures of some of his personal belongings at the office.

Girls Gone Wild filed for bankruptcy in February of 2013, owing anywhere between $10 to $50 million to their creditors, including the likes of casino mogul Steve Wynn and various women that have successfully sued after being included on their various video anthologies of debaucherous behavior. As part of the restraining order against Francis, he is also not allowed to interact with employees of Girls Gone Wild, after the company's trustee alleged Francis has threatened to fire them despite having no control over the business anymore.

Francis has had his various run-ins with the law over the years, being the upstanding, classy guy that he is. Best of luck Joe (not).

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