Joe Francis Locked Up

Timing is everything. The other day, I was just watching an episode of Law & Order, where they had a character that was taken from the life of Joe Francis of Girls Gone Wild, and now comes the news that he's been arrested and thrown in jail.

The U.S. Marshal's Office in Panama City, Florida, told People magazine that Joe was arrested at 6:30 a.m. at the Panama City airport because of a warrant seeking his arrest for criminal contempt of court. Right now, he's sitting in the Bay County jail.

Just yesterday, Joe told FOX News's Geraldo Rivera that he planned to surrender to authorities, but apparently eagle-eyed airport police beat him to the punch. The arrest was ordered because last week, Joe allegedly "changed the terms of a settlement deal stemming from a 2003 lawsuit in which seven women accused him of victimizing them by filming them in sexual situations while they were on spring break in Panama City."

He had until noon last Thursday to surrender, but ignored deadline.

According to the News Herald, Francis told Rivera on Monday: "I'm not trying to hide at all. I'm on my way to Florida right now to turn myself in and comply with the judge's order. I would never run from justice." Yeah, ok.

Photo from People.