LOS ANGELES " A bench warrant has been issued for "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis after he failed to show up for a Los Angeles court hearing in his tax evasion case.
U.S. attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek says the warrant was issued today by U.S. District Judge S. James Otero. Francis had sought to retain a new attorney.
A phone message left for Francis by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.
Francis has pleaded not guilty to two counts of federal tax evasion. He is accused of claiming more than $20 million in bogus business expenses on his corporate tax returns, including $3.8 million for a home in Mexico and $10.4 million in phony consulting services.
His trial is scheduled for March.