Girls Gone Wild associate fined $5,000; no prison

By SCOTT SONNER Associated Press Writer

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A Hollywood associate of Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis has been fined $5,000 but spared prison time for his role in the bribery of jail guards to help Francis when he was held in Reno on tax evasion charges in 2007.

Aaron Weinstein originally faced a felony bribery charge but agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor of providing contraband in prison.

U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks told Weinstein Monday he avoided prison partly because he cooperated with authorities in prosecuting Francis and two guards who acknowledged accepting thousands of dollars in cash and gifts.

Ex-Washoe County deputy Ralph Hawkins was sentenced in December to three years probation and fined $4,000 for accepting cash and tickets to Raiders games from Weinstein.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A Hollywood associate of Joe Francis will be sentenced in Reno for his role in the bribery of jail guards to help the Girls Gone Wild founder while he was being held on tax evasion charges in 2007.

Aaron Weinstein originally faced a bribery charge but agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of providing contraband in prison.

A federal jury earlier acquitted one former Washoe County deputy, Michon Mills, of bribery charges after she was accused of accepting nearly $10,000 in gifts from Weinstein.

Another ex-deputy, Ralph Hawkins, was sentenced in December to three years probation and fined $4,000 for accepting cash and tickets to Raiders games from Weinstein.

The sentencing is set for later Monday.