PANAMA CITY — The State Attorney’s Office this week dropped charges of smuggling contraband into the jail against Mantra Films Inc. President Scott Barbour.
Barbour, 46, of Calabasas, Calif., was accused of smuggling contraband into the Bay County Jail for his boss, Joe Francis, while Francis was incarcerated last April for federal contempt of court.
Mantra Films is the company that produces the “Girls Gone Wild” videos.
Barbour was released from jail last year after posting a $25,000 bond. His charges, all third-degree felonies punishable by five years in prison each, were dropped Tuesday, according to court records, because Francis pleaded to the offenses.
Francis entered a plea on March 12 to, among other things, two counts of violating a posted jail rule, a misdemeanor, for possessing cash and a water bottle in his jail cell. He was sentenced to time served.
“I’m sure Mister Barbour is relieved,” Mantra attorney Michael Burke, of Los Angeles, said Friday. “Given the public statements made by Mister Francis and the time he’s already served in respect to the misdemeanor jail contraband case, the company thinks dismissal of the charges against Mister Barbour was the right, and only, thing to do.”
Francis made numerous public statements prior to entering his plea that he brought the items into the jail with him and was not searched when he was booked.
Burke said Francis was overcharged when the state levied felony counts of introducing contraband into the jail. He said Francis pleaded to the proper charge, a misdemeanor, on March 12.
Barbour originally was charged because phone calls between him and Francis were monitored and there was a discussion between the two about receipt of some unspecified items, investigators said. Barbour was visiting Francis daily at the jail.
Barbour’s attorney, Bob Pell of Panama City, said in March he hoped Francis’ plea would resolve the case against Barbour. He said Friday that dismissal of the charges was the right resolution.
