Los Angeles- from www.heraldsun.com.au – AN AUSTRALIAN businessman who owns distribution rights to the popular Girls Gone Wild soft porn franchise was behind bars last night after being charged for his alleged involvement in a fatal hit-and-run in Hollywood.

Ryan Mathew Bowman, the director of Zeal Entertainment, which has offices in Sydney, the Gold Coast, Singapore and Los Angeles, was locked up last night after being formally charged by the LA County Sheriff’s office with vehicular manslaughter.

The 34-year-old entrepreneur was allegedly behind the wheel of his late-model grey Bentley when it struck Lauren Ann Freeman, 21, as she left a concert at the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard.

Ms Freeman, who was thrown 15m into the air by the impact, was with a friend when they crossed the road at Hammond St to catch a taxi.

Zeal Entertainment’s LA office is located on the same road, close to where the alleged accident happened about 11.50pm local time.

LA County Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore said Bowman’s car had been abandoned more than 2km away from the crime scene. Bowman turned himself in about 16 hours after the accident.

from www.goldcoast.com.au – A FORMER Gold Coast businessman who promoted the popular Girls Gone Wild soft-porn franchise was behind bars last night in the US after being charged for his alleged involvement in a fatal hit-and-run in Hollywood.

Ryan Mathew Bowman, who has an office in Sydney, was locked up after being formally charged by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office with vehicular manslaughter.

The 34-year-old entertainment entrepreneur, who made headlines on the Gold Coast in 2007 after trying to host a sleazy Schoolies cruise for Girls Gone Wild, was allegedly behind the wheel of his late-model Bentley when it struck Lauren Ann Freeman, 21, as she left a concert at the famous Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard.

Mr Bowman, now lives in Los Angeles – his company, Zeal Entertainment, was the Australian distributor of the adult entertainment company.

Zeal Entertainment’s LA office is located on the same road, close to where the alleged accident happened about 11.50pm local time.

LA County Sheriff office spokesman Steve Whitmore told The Daily Telegraph that Bowman’s luxury car was found abandoned 2.4km from the crime scene.

Bowman turned himself into West Hollywood police about 16 hours after the accident.

Ms Freeman, who was thrown 15m into the air by the impact, was with her friend when they crossed the Boulevard at Hammond Street to catch a cab.

”He came in with representation and refused to talk citing the Fifth Amendment,” Whitmore said.

He said alcohol was likely involved in the crash, although Bowman’s blood alcohol content was unclear last night.

The Roxy Theatre turned off its lights yesterday in memory of Ms Freeman. An RIP page was also set-up on Facebook for the popular blonde Hollywood local.

Bowman is being held in prison on a $US100,000 bail bond. He has hired a prominent LA celebrity attorney to defend the allegation.

The lawyer has defended Mel Gibson and a host of other high-profile US identities in the past.

Bowman is next due in court in LA on November 15.

The Daily Telegraph contacted the Gold Coast, Singapore and Los Angeles offices of Zeal Entertainment.

They did not return calls. Bowman’s voice is heard on the answering machine of the company’s international headquarters in Singapore.

At the time, Gold Coast politicians described the cruise as ‘seedy and predatory’.

It is also believed Mr Bowman owns several properties on the Coast, including a luxury Main Beach unit and a commercial office at Southport.

Girls Gone Wild is a notorious US adult entertainment company famous for its soft-core porn movies of drunken girls exposing themselves and engaging in other sexual acts.