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."
If that's not the norm, then why??? A probation violator is by definition a two time loser. Shouldn't they be serving out the remainder of the original sentence?
Maybe they ran out of Lysol.
That’s what I’m thinking. Eventually, her DUI’s are going to catch up with her and the Sheriff thought he had problems with Paris now? Just wait til she kills someone drunk driving without a license. THEN his headaches really begin.
I agree but this crap is not news. I am sick and tired of hearing about a rich spoiled girl that does not have any shred of talent plastered across the TV. If she didnt have her families money her name would be white trash.
I think they were extremely light with her.
If I drive drunk, can I serve my sentence in Paris Hilton’s mansion?
It looks like she may be going back to jail!
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20070608/D8PKAB4G0.html
Jail Paris!!!!!
SHE MAY HAVE TO CANCEL THE PARTY
http://gawker.com/news/freedom.s-just-another-word/paris-hiltons-house-arrest-party-266993.php
Paris Hilton’s House (Arrest) Party
WE HEAR... that tomorrow’s New York Post will report that Paris Hilton is throwing a big old house party tonight to celebrate her “freedom.” Or at least her freedom to stay home for 40 days and contemplate her new jewelry. It’s gonna be Biblical, yo! Off the hook—but not off the bracelet! Word is that the parties will surely continue on each night, blurring into one long continuous freakshow for 40 days and 40 nights. Can you build an ark out of crack and pills?
It wasn’t the fame, it was the cash. Someone was bought.
Tomorrow, here come da judge...it’s back to da coop.
This is total BS!! I saw a bumper sticker that said, Religion was invented to keep the poor from killing the rich. Our legal system is so screwed-up! It makes me sick.
Frankly, I believe Paris Hilton was sent home for a medical condition. The warden didn’t want her 18 raging STDs to be spread through the entire prison population.
Provided you have money or are an elected dumb-o-crat thief and lier.
Nor good looks. There is no way in the world that that woman could be considered attractive. Her features are not symmetrical nor pleasing to the eye. Face it: it's her fortune, for which she did nothing but be born. Only in Hollywood and only in America.
There’s no way her billionaire daddy had anything to do with this. And I have a bridge-tunnel to sell.
I’m tempted to petition President Bush to pardon Paris Hilton just to get her sorry name out of the news.
Do you suppose le Sheriff might have had “a Night in Paris” ... ??
Three days, that makes a lot of sense. People suffering from alcohol/drug withdrawal really hit the wall after they’ve been sober about 3 days. The reports of Paris being suicidal are probably exaggerated, but I can believe she’d be a total whiner quitting television for 3 days, much less alcohol, cocaine, and dance clubs.
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