Local Prosecutors Are Losing Some Key Evidence in the Girls Gone Wild Case

By: Rex Ogburn

Updated: Wed 10:12 AM, Mar 10, 2004

Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis and his crew made dozens of tapes on Panama City Beach during Spring Break last year.

He faces 43 charges including racketeering, promoting the sexual performance of a child and using a child in a sexual performance. He also faces serious charges of promoting the sexual performance of two 17-year-old girls in a shower at a Panama City Beach motel and filming it.

Bay County sheriff's deputies arrested Francis and the GGW crew last April.

Francis' defense lawyer says the latest court ruling could undermine 90-percent of the state's case.

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