Now back to the important news.: Paris Hilton convicted
One of my best friends got a DWI recently. To make is worse, it was her second in less than 5 years. For an otherwise law abiding person- a 2nd DWI is a crime with a pretty harsh penalty. People do all sorts of things in this state, spousal abuse, theft, drug use, and usally get probation. But get a 2nd DWI - mandatory 10 days jail, at least on the books. Of course that might just mean 5 weekends, but jail is jail.
As you can read below, Paris Hilton ( my favorite celebutaunt ) got a DWI not too long ago. She, like eveyrone else, was ordered to do a driving class and had her license suspended. She just kept driving and never took her class. Apparently, in california, a DWI is much harsher than in Arkansas - and she was already on 36 months probation. Her sentence for driving with a suspended license and not doing her class --45 days !!!! ouch. I represented someone just the other day in LR trafic court for not one but two driving while suspended, driving with no insurance, and a ticket for a wreck -- all she got was $800 fine ( she had already served one night in jail ) I can understand getting a DWI - and in my younger days probably deserved one a on more than one occasion. But once you get it --- to keep driving and ignore the drivers ed class is -- well -- ditzy. I noticed that they are not going to allow her to stay in an "alternative jail" like the one I descrbed last week as well. Straight up 45 days. I don't konw how California works. Here in Arkansas --- you could instantly appeal and try to get a better sentence at circuit court or even ask for a jury trial. I bet there are a few hundred Hollywood types that are going to start taking cabs home a lot more often after this sentence has been imposed.
Hilton Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail May 4 07:25 PM US/Eastern By SANDY COHEN AP Entertainment Writer View larger image LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail Friday for violating her probation, putting the brakes on the hotel heiress' famous high life. Hilton, who parlayed her name and relentless partying into worldwide notoriety, must go to jail on June 5 and she will not be allowed any work release, no furloughs, no use of an alternative jail and no electronic monitoring in lieu of jail, Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled after a hearing. The heiress arrived at court 10 minutes late in the back of a black Cadillac Escalade and swept into the Metropolitan Courthouse with several men in suits, ignoring screams of photographers lining the route into a rear entrance. Her parents, Rick and Kathy Hilton, also came with her. Wearing a gray jacket and white shirt over black slacks and with a black headband on, she said nothing and appeared serious. The celebrity case brought an unusual scene to the austere courthouse south of downtown in a commercial area. As if at a red carpet event, dozens of photographers and reporters lined up at the rear entrance. Yellow police tape substituted for velvet ropes. TV trucks were parked nearby to beam the news worldwide and a helicopter hovered overhead. Extra sheriff's deputies stood guard. Hilton, 26, 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, are what landed the socialite back in court. On Jan. 15, Hilton was pulled over by California Highway Patrol. Officers informed her that she was driving on a suspended license and she signed a document acknowledging that she was not to drive, according to papers filed in Superior Court. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies stopped Hilton on Feb. 27 and charged her with violating her probation. Police said she was pulled over at about 11 p.m. after authorities saw the car speeding with its headlights off. Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz, said at the time Hilton wasn't aware her license was suspended. A copy of the document Hilton signed on Jan. 15 was found in the car's glove compartment, court papers say.
