Panama City, Florida- [The County Press]- The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Scott Douglas Barbour, DOB 9/9/61, of Marina Del Ray, California, Thursday in Bay County Florida, on a charge of Introduction of Contraband into the Bay County Jail.
Barbour is an associate of Joseph Raymond Francis. Francis is currently incarcerated at the Bay County Jail. Numerous prescription pills and about $700.00 in cash were found in Francis’ cell in the Bay County Jail. Authorities were alerted to the fact Francis may have cash in his possession when he tried to bribe a corrections officer. At about 11:50 Wednesday evening, at the request of jail supervisors, investigators searched Francis’ cell and found the cash and pills.
All telephone calls made by inmates are recorded and inmates are informed of this when they are booked. An examination of recordings of telephone calls Francis made to a person named “Scott” led investigators to believe that Scott Barbour may have brought Francis the pills and cash when he visited Francis in jail on Wednesday, 2007.
Barbour was arrested while waiting to visit Francis again in the Bay County Jail. He was booked and is currently being held in the Bay County Jail. Barbour faced first appearance yesterday.
The County Press confirmed with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday morning, in it alleged that Joe Francis was found to have drugs in his solitary Bay County jail cell. Officials reported that he was routinely searched Wednesday night, and he was in possession of undisclosed pills. After investigations are complete, charges could include,introduction of contraband into a correctional facility and possession of controlled substance.
A sheriff spokesperson told The County Press, mid morning Thursday, that discussions were underway between the Feds and Bay County Sheriffs as to which agency will file formal charges. Charges could include introducing drugs into a jail which is a felony.
Additionally, an arrest warrant was expected as early as Thursday to be issued for Francis stemming from the Tax Evasion charges in Nevada.
Back story: Founder of the “Girls Gone Wild” Joe Francis was arrested Tuesday morning as he disembarked from a flight arriving at Panama City airport, 6:30 am. He is being held on a “Contempt of Court warrant issued by a Federal Judge.
Joe Francis was taken to the Bay County Jail, and put behind bars after being nabbed by Airport Police early Tuesday morning.
Officials with the U.S. Marshals service say Airport Police met him at his jet after he flew in to Panama City around 6:30 a.m. Airport Police said he flew in on his private jet.
U.S. Marshals were called and took him into custody.
Francis was then transported to the Bay County Jail where he is awaiting first appearance before a Federal Magistrate.
March 31st. Federal Judge Richard Smoak ordered Francis to pay more than 40 dollars a day for his incarceration. He ordered Francis arrested on contempt of court charges April 5th.
Francis will be held at the Bay County Jail until he participates in meaningful mediations with the plaintiffs, seven minor girls that were filmed by Francis’s company, Mantra Films, in sexually explicit videos taped during Spring Break 2003.in a civil suit.