Abuse reported at Oklahoma jail

Joe Francis, 34, the producer who has made millions from “Girls Gone Wild, says guards at the Grady County Law Enforcement Center in Oklahoma abused him during his brief sojourn there from May 17 to June 4.

Francis was a guest at Grady while en route from a Florida jail to a federal facility in Reno, Nev., where he’ll face trial for tax evasion.

He told the Oklahoman paper that guards denied him food and blankets and threatened to strap him naked to a chair.

Grady officials deny the abuse. Francis’ attorney has refused to comment.

Boy George order to stand trial

Re-re-reiterating the month’s most overused song-reference joke, “Did he really want to hurt him?”, the media say Boy George (George O’Dowd) was ordered by Thames Magistrate Court in London on Thursday to stand trial on Feb. 25 for falsely imprisoning one Auden Karlsen.

Boy, 46, allegedly took the male escort home on April 28, chained him to a wall, and brandished various sex toys in a threatening manner.

Karlsen, who denies he’s an escort, earlier this year told the Daily Mail, “I was convinced I was going to die.”

Winehouse to spend holidays alone

Amy Winehouse was in tears Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London when Judge David Robson denied her hubby bail, condemning him to spend Christmas in jail.

Blake Fielder-Civil is charged with witness tampering in his forthcoming assault trial. He must await a Jan. 18 hearing.

Amy, who sported a “long-sleeved black minidress and . . . her trademark beehive” (People.com), had moral support from 30 women outside the court, all dressed like her. As he was led away, Blake mouthed to Amy, “I love you” and “Are you all right?” She nodded.

New Kid becomes parent

Joey McIntyre, 34, who got his big break when he replaced Jaime Kelley in New Kids on the Block, has become a parent. Joey’s wife, Barrett, gave birth to a boy on Tuesday. The baby’s name is being worked out.

—

(This column contains information from Philadelphia Inquirer wire services.)

—

(c) 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Visit Philadelphia Online, the Inquirer’s World Wide Web site, at http://www.philly.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

AP-NY-11-24-07 1408EST