Florida State Attorney Steve Meadows Allegedly Commits Child Sex Crimes

Florida State Attorney Steve Meadows Allegedly Commits Child Sex Crimes

State Attorney Steve Meadows, Who Has Relentlessly Pursued Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis, is Caught on Tape Hosting Child Pornography Screening Party

RENO, Nev., Nov. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Counsel for Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis has requested that the Florida Attorney General initiate a criminal investigation against Florida State Prosecutor Steve Meadows after Martin Bashir of ABC News Nightline broadcast footage of Meadows exhibiting and disseminating what Meadows himself has insisted is "child pornography."

In Friday's installment of the respected ABC news program, Emmy award- winning journalist Martin Bashir discovered first hand that Panama City prosecutors who have been holding Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis jailed without bail for the last 7 months even though he hasn't been convicted of a crime, have in fact been themselves breaking the law in their zeal to gain notoriety and get revenge by prosecuting Francis, despite evidence that Francis is innocent.

Francis's Nevada attorney David R. Houston has filed a criminal referral to the Florida Attorney General, Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Bar asking that Prosecutor Meadows be investigated and prosecuted for criminal activity, based on his exhibition to Nightline reporter Martin Bashir and others of child pornography. The original footage was shot by an independent contractor who was not directly employed by Girls Gone Wild in Panama City, Florida in 2003. Francis was jailed in connection with the seizure of the footage by local police despite the fact that he was not involved in the filming, and despite the fact that the girls featured in the videos lied about their ages to appear on camera.

Meadows, who faces reelection, has been waging a public campaign against Francis in direct violation of his duties as State Attorney. His actions have, according to Francis's attorneys, deprived Francis of the chance for a fair trial. Recently, Meadows made statements on a VH1 television program asserting Francis's guilt before Francis has even been tried, referring to evidence that has already been ruled inadmissible in the case.

"Meadow's screening party of child pornography to Bashir and others not only violates the girls' right to privacy, it constitutes a second-degree criminal offense," according to Houston. Meadows claims that he showed the tapes to Bashir in response to "a public records request" despite the fact that he has refused a similar request by Francis's defense counsel on the grounds that the videotape constitutes child pornography and as such, is considered to be contraband and cannot legally be reproduced or disseminated.

Houston's referral for a criminal investigation follows on the heels of a motion filed against Meadows by Francis's Florida attorney, Roy Black. The motion describes Meadows' exhibition of the child pornography as the most recent, and most egregious incident in what is clearly a pattern of prosecutorial misconduct.

The motion states, "Meadows' belief that disseminating this contraband was permissible under public records law is no less absurd than had he provided a kilogram of cocaine to Nightline reporters because they made a request for it in connection with a case they were highlighting on their next program."

Black's motion calls for the dismissal of charges against Francis based on this prosecutorial misconduct and to disqualify Meadows based on continued violations of the rules of professional conduct. Black's motion states, "Steve Meadows has engaged in extensive, irreparable and outrageous acts of prosecutorial misconduct, ranging from violations of Bar ethics rules, to violations of the criminal laws of this state (Florida)." The motion requests that Judge Dee Dee Costello dismiss the charges against Francis.

The motion goes on to state that "The irony of Meadows' actions in playing the videotape, is that Steve Meadows is prosecuting Joseph Francis under Section 827.071, because the two young women in a hotel room shower, performing sexual acts on themselves and each other, were only months shy of turning 18. Meadows charged Mr. Francis even Francis was not involved in the filming, both young women voluntarily participated in the filming, were seen on the videotape lying about their ages, were videotaped signing releases giving permission for their images to be used and acknowledging that they were 18 years old. Both of the young women were physically mature, well-endowed, one had a tattooed buttock and both could easily be mistaken to be 18 years of age or older. Steve Meadows, on the other hand, knowing that the young women in the videotape were children, personally invited Martin Bashir to view the very videotape of child pornography upon which he bases his prosecution of Joseph Francis. As the State Attorney, Steve Meadows is Bay County's chief law enforcement official. One would presume that he, better than anyone else, would know that the presentation or exhibition of child pornography is a crime."

In a related move, Francis's attorney David R. Houston is filing an emergency motion with the Federal District Court in Nevada, where Francis is being held, asking for emergency assistance in the matter, on the grounds that the Florida State court is incapable of adjudicating the matter fairly. The motion calls for the Federal Court to intervene and override the detainer placed on Francis by the Florida State Court, which would allow Francis to post bond and be released from jail after spending seven months behind bars without bail.

"It is apparent Mr. Meadows has lost all perspective as it concerns his oath as a prosecutor and his duty to obey the law in his zeal to personally inflict pain upon Mr. Francis," says Houston. "It is now time for the courts to stop the rampant prosecutorial misconduct and remove Mr. Meadows and his office from further dealings in a system that requires truth and fairness.'

The Nightline episode can be viewed in full at MeetJoeFrancis.com.

Roy Black

Roy Black is one of the nation's premier trial lawyers. With more than 35 years of trial experience, he has handled hundreds of cases throughout the United States. He is also the author of Black's Law, a book that recounts the strategies and tactics he employed to safeguard the freedom of four clients. E-mail: rblack@royblack.com

David R. Houston

David R. Houston is a highly regarded and frequently quoted criminal trial lawyer based in Reno, Nevada. Mr. Houston has been recognized as President of the Northern Nevada Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 and named as Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year for several consecutive years by the Editorial Staff of the Consumer Business and Review. Email: dhouston@houstonatlaw.com

Joe Francis

Joe Francis (born April 1, 1973), is best known as the founder and CEO of the Girls Gone Wild (GGW) lifestyle brand, which has become an American pop culture phenomenon. Francis graduated from the University of Southern California in 1995 with a degree in business, and founded Mantra Films, his global entertainment company, at age 24.

Corporate Overview

Mantra Films, Inc. develops and distributes lifestyle entertainment to audiences worldwide through home video, television, live event, wireless, Internet, SVOD, and Pay Per View distribution channels. The company is a leader in the direct response marketing and membership segments and owns and operates its own production facilities and call center. Best known for the Girls Gone Wild (GGW) lifestyle brand, which has become an American pop culture phenomenon.

Source: Mantra Films, Inc.

CONTACT: Ronn Torossian, rtorossian@5wpr.com, +1-212-999-5585, for
Mantra Films, Inc.

Web site:

http://meetjoefrancis.com/

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