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Did Fame Spring [Paris] Hilton From Jail Early?
Comcast.net ^ | 7 Jun 07 | Linda Deutsch

Posted on 06/07/2007 4:35:19 PM PDT by seanmerc

LOS ANGELES - The judge said she'd get no breaks. The sheriff said she'd do her time. Even Paris Hilton said she was ready to face her sentence.

But on Thursday, three days into a 23-day jail stint, Hilton was fitted with an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet and released to the comforts of her 2,700-square-foot Hollywood Hills home due to a mysterious and unspecified medical condition.

Did fame afford her special treatment? Neither Hilton's representatives nor Sheriff Lee Baca, who made the decision to spring the celebrity inmate, responded to requests for comment Thursday.

Hilton released a brief statement through her lawyer, thanking the sheriff's department and jail staff "for treating me fairly and professionally. I am going to serve the remaining 40 days of my sentence. I have learned a great deal from this ordeal and hope that others have learned from my mistakes."

Attorneys, meanwhile, differed on whether her treatment was unusual.

"She would have gotten out early if she was plain Jane," said Leonard Levine, who has handled numerous probation violation cases. He noted that overcrowding in the Los Angeles County jail system has led to thousands of nonviolent offenders serving only 10 percent of their sentences. "She did as much time as a normal person would have done."

But City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo denounced Baca's decision, saying his office was not properly advised and would have opposed it on legal grounds. Delgadillo asserted that only the judge _ who had specifically said Hilton could not do her time at home and disagreed with the early release _ retained jurisdiction over her case.

Steve Cron, a defense attorney who has represented celebrities, said Hilton was indeed treated differently: "I think the sheriff was just tired of the paparazzi and the increased security problems. ... I don't buy the reasons they gave."

The saga began last Sept. 7, when police spotted Hilton weaving down a Hollywood street in her Mercedes. She failed a sobriety test, pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to 36 months' probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines.

Two more driving arrests later, she had violated her probation and was sentenced to 45 days in jail. That was reduced to 23 days for "good behavior."

On Sunday night, after a surprise red-carpet appearance at the MTV Movie Awards, Hilton surrendered to authorities with little fanfare. She was sent to the separate "special needs" unit of the county's Lynwood lockup, which contains 12 two-person cells reserved for police officers, public officials, celebrities and other high-profile inmates. Hilton didn't have a cellmate.

Like other inmates in the special-needs area, Hilton took meals in her cell and was allowed outside for at least an hour each day to shower, watch TV in the day room, participate in outdoor recreation or talk on the telephone.

Then, shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday, Hilton was sent home to her four-bedroom, three-bath Spanish-style house on .14 acres above the Sunset Strip.

Presumably, she has the run of the place as long as she doesn't step outside the gate. And she can probably invite over celebrity pals like Britney Spears or Nicole Richie.

"House arrest is nothing," Cron said. "She can have friends over, she can party all night long."

When she chose to serve her time under house arrest, the sentence reverted to the original 45 days. Although Hilton spent only three days in jail, she was credited for five because she checked in late Sunday and left early Thursday.

Although the jury of public opinion may be outraged at Hilton's early release, celebrity attorney Harland Braun said Hilton was actually being treated more harshly than a normal person: "I can't imagine anyone else going in for 45 days for a probation violation."

Loyola University law professor Laurie Levenson suspected the deal for Hilton's early release was in the works even before she entered the jail system _ and that officials probably were anxious to get her out of their custody.

"The time and resources needed to take care of a Paris Hilton are huge," she said. "They have to make sure she is safe and her medical needs are attended to. Everything they did was going to be looked at under a microscope."

Levine said that with rewards being offered for pictures of Hilton in custody, jail officials would have had to monitor the cell phone cameras of every employee.

But the claims of a medical problem rang false to Cron and others, who said inmates with health or psychological issues can be treated in the jail infirmary.

"If psychological problems were good reason to have people released, half the population of the prisons would be out," said Levine.

Rene Seidel of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services said she had "never heard of" an inmate being released from jail for a medical condition.

Inmates with a cold are sent to a jail clinic, she said, and the seriously ill go to the jail ward of the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

Cron said that whether or not Hilton was treated fairly, the outcome doesn't reflect well on the criminal justice system.

"I'm proud of the system and this makes the system look cheap," Cron said. "It makes it look like she's a celebrity and she got a sweetheart deal. It will further the perception that celebrities are treated differently."


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: hilton; paris; parishilton; thatshot
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Something is rotten in the state of Denmark...
1 posted on 06/07/2007 4:35:20 PM PDT by seanmerc
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To: seanmerc

unbievable!!! so she gets an ankle braclet and gets to stay in her mansion...oh wow, that hurt!


2 posted on 06/07/2007 4:39:16 PM PDT by Jewels1091
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To: seanmerc
Why is she even in jail to begin with? Just fine her a zillion dollars and give it to charity or force her to give free concerts for this or that social problem. Bums like R Kelly are on the loose 5 years after being busted for filming child porn (he of the urinating-on-a-14-year-old-girl fame).
3 posted on 06/07/2007 4:39:49 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch (Forty on the highway, forty in the driveway.)
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To: seanmerc
"Did fame afford her special treatment?"

Duh...

4 posted on 06/07/2007 4:40:12 PM PDT by the lone wolf (Good Luck, and watch out for stobor.)
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To: seanmerc

Duh! Does the bear do the thing in the woods? Is the Pope Catholic? Is a frogs @$$ watertight?


5 posted on 06/07/2007 4:41:45 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: seanmerc

Now, if the judge were to put that Sheriff into jail for ignoring his directions — then, all this would be worthwhile.


6 posted on 06/07/2007 4:41:48 PM PDT by vetsvette (Bring Him Back)
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To: seanmerc
.....with liberty and justice for all.

???????

7 posted on 06/07/2007 4:45:23 PM PDT by Churchillspirit (We are all foot soldiers in this War On Terror.)
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To: seanmerc
What is rotten is that she was sentenced to jail in the first place. She is a non-violent offender and should just be fined some percentage of her assets.
8 posted on 06/07/2007 4:46:19 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (Waiting for Samson)
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To: Jewels1091

It’s more than OJ got.


9 posted on 06/07/2007 4:48:17 PM PDT by Inquisitive1 (I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance - Socrates)
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To: Drango

Does Rose Kennedy own a black dress?


10 posted on 06/07/2007 4:49:47 PM PDT by Inquisitive1 (I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance - Socrates)
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To: Churchillspirit

11 posted on 06/07/2007 4:51:14 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: seanmerc

Her lawyers have been working on this and pulling strings for weeks. There are indeed two Americas.


12 posted on 06/07/2007 4:51:57 PM PDT by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: Inquisitive1

Poor Paris. She will be confined to her nice house for the duration. It’s hard not to go anywhere but I’m sure she will survive. Something had to happen behind the scenes with this medical condition of hers. prisoners get sick and will be taken to hospitals while still under guard, so something doesnt make sense.


13 posted on 06/07/2007 4:52:12 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Dilbert San Diego

I have a special on Paris Hilton “Get out of Jail Free” cards. The are much better than carbon credits. If interested please FReepmail me your credit card and pin number. No checks.


14 posted on 06/07/2007 4:53:18 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Churchillspirit

It’s hard not to leave the house. But if she gets hungry she can call for a pizza delivery.


15 posted on 06/07/2007 4:53:21 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: seanmerc

The poor girls got a health condition. I think she’s got expecunia.


16 posted on 06/07/2007 4:55:24 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: seanmerc

The certification of her ‘health condition’ came from her psychiatrist. I’ll check the DSM, but I wasn’t aware that there was a code for ‘spoiled brat syndrome’.

And by the way, the judge approved the release.


17 posted on 06/07/2007 4:56:37 PM PDT by ArmstedFragg
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To: seanmerc

Mostly, celebrities get out of jail early.......Mostly


18 posted on 06/07/2007 4:57:01 PM PDT by eyedigress (Fredheads UNITE!)
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To: seanmerc
The best justice money can buy...

As for why they don't fine her a "zillion" dollars, the law almost certainly has a _maximum_ fine, something that is no doubt sufficient to teach you and I a painful lesson, but nothing that would even dent her nails budget. The judge can only give the fines the law allows.

19 posted on 06/07/2007 4:57:59 PM PDT by MichiganMan (Last year, this consumer spent over $150 on native Linux games. Who wants my business next year?)
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To: af_vet_1981

So no non-violent criminals should be in jail?


20 posted on 06/07/2007 5:00:23 PM PDT by Inverse
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