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May 5, 2007 - Paris Hilton sentenced to jail for 45 days |
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LOS ANGELES, CA -- Paris Hilton worked as a farmer
and maid on her TV show "The Simple Life." Now she's
facing a real-life hardship in her latest role: jail
inmate.
Hilton, who parlayed her name and relentless
partying into worldwide notoriety, was sentenced |
Friday to 45 days in county jail for violating
probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving
case by driving with a suspended license.
As an inmate, she might have to spend most of her
day in a cell smaller than her closet — her only
luxury escape a short period to shower, watch TV,
exercise or talk on the phone. |
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"I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay
complete attention to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do
it on purpose at all," Hilton, 26, told a judge before the
sentencing.
Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer, saying "there's no
doubt she knew her license had been suspended," ordered that
Hilton report to a women's jail in suburban Lynwood by June
5.
The judge's ruling did not allow any work release,
furloughs, use of an alternative jail or electronic
monitoring in lieu of jail. Nor could Hilton pay to serve
time in a jail of her choice, as some are allowed.
Hilton left the courtroom with her parents, Kathy and Rick,
and headed straight to their car. She looked forward and
didn't speak to a crush of reporters and photographers
shouting questions at her.
Her mother was visibly upset.
"This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money
with all this nonsense. This is a joke," Kathy Hilton said
of the judge's decision.
Defense attorney Howard Weitzman said he would appeal.
"I'm shocked, I'm surprised and really disheartened in the
system that I've worked in for close to 40 years," Weitzman
said.
He said the sentence was "uncalled for, inappropriate and
bordered on the ludicrous."
"I think she's singled out because of who she is," Weitzman
said.
City attorney spokesman Nick Velasquez said that the judge's
ruling "sends a clear message that in the city of Los
Angeles, no one is above the law."
Hilton pleaded no contest in January to reckless driving
stemming from a Sept. 7 arrest in Hollywood. Police said she
appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. She
had a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent, the level at which
an adult driver is in violation of the law.
She was sentenced to 36 months probation, alcohol education
and $1,500 in fines.
Two other traffic stops and failure to enroll in a mandated
alcohol education program landed her back in court.
Should she report to the Century Regional Detention Center,
Hilton will be living in a one- or two-person cell as a
high-profile inmate, segregated from the general population
for her own safety.
Her cell would be spartan: 12-by-8 feet with a toilet, sink
and a window 6 inches wide, said Capt. Alice Scott, who
oversees the 2,200-inmate facility she describes as "a very
nice place."
Hilton can expect to receive three low-sodium meals a day,
with dinner the only hot meal.
Inmates in segregation are allowed outside their cells for
at least an hour each day to shower, watch television in the
day room, participate in outdoor recreation or talk on the
telephone, Scott said. There are a bank of phones that use
prepaid phone cards — cellular telephones and Blackberries
aren't allowed.
She was ordered to report to the jail by the set date — or
face 90 days behind bars. |
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