Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in jail after a series of violations that started with a DUI arrest on September 7, 2006.
Original DUI Arrest
Hilton, 26, pleaded no contest in January to reckless driving stemming from the September 7 arrest in Hollywood when 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.
Driving on a Suspended License on January 15, 2007
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. Paris Hilton’s Spokesman, Elliot Mintz said at the time Hilton wasn’t aware her license was suspended, but a copy of the document Hilton signed on Jan. 15 was found in the car’s glove compartment.
Speeding with Headlights Off at 11 p.m. February 27 and Violating Probation
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 they saw her car speeding with its headlights off.
Failure to Enroll in Alcohol Education Program
Hilton also failed to enroll in a required alcohol education program by Feb. 12. As of April 17, she had not enrolled, prosecutors said.
Jail Judgment
Paris Hilton arrived to court 10 minutes late. Most of her defense was based on her claim that she didn’t know she shouldn’t be driving because her attorneys and spokesman told her it was O.K. to drive. Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer, who ruled the hearing, called Mintz’s testimony worthless and expressed disbelief at Hilton’s lawyer Howard Weitzman.
After the closing arguments by a city prosecutor, Hilton’s mother, Kathy Hilton shouted, “Can I have your autograph?” Then in an interview she responded to a reporter’s question about the judge’s decision, “What do you think? This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money with all this nonsense. This is a joke.”
Hilton must go to jail in suburban Lynwood by June 5 or face 90 days in jail.
Defense attorney Howard Weitzman said he would appeal.