Joe Francis Convicted: Founder of 'Girls Gone Wild' Convicted of Assault Charges (Video)

By Jared Feldschreiber | May 07, 2013 04:20 PM EDT

'Girls Gone Wild' founder Joe Francis was convicted of misdemeanor assault and false imprisonment stemming from a dispute after a wild evening in Hollywood, the Associated Press reported.

The Los Angeles city attorney's office said a jury convicted Francis of three counts of false imprisonment, one count of assault as well as other misdemeanors. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled, and faces up to five years in prison, news reports said.

The situation ensued when prosecutors said Francis took three women from a club and a fight broke out when he tried to separate one from the others. It took place outside the Supper Club in Hollywood on January 29, 2011

They say Francis grabbed a woman by the hair and throat and slammed her head into the floor.

The district attorney declined to press felony charges and referred the case to the city attorney for consideration of misdemeanors.

Facing a maximum of five years in prison, a hearing to schedule his sentence was set for Wednesday.

Previous phone numbers for Francis were disconnected, and neither he nor his attorneys would immediately be reached for comment.

GGW Brands LLC, Francis' company, filed for bankruptcy in February after years of legal troubles, which listed more than $16 million in disputed claims.

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