Friday, June 08, 2007

updated at 3pm PST - Paris Hilton Is Checked In To The Twin Towers

Now that Paris Hilton has been ordered back to jail, what exactly happened in the court room today?

(Associated Press picture shows distressed Paris Hilton being taken back to jail this afternoon)

Los Angeles city attorney Rocky Delgadillo argued at today's hearing that the LA Sheriff's Department violated the court order that Hilton not receive any special treatment - no house arrest, no monitoring anklet, no deals other than 45 days in jail for violation of her probation for DUI (see court document charging Hilton with DUI).

Delgadillo argued that Hilton's “shortening” time was unlawful, that the LA Sheriff's Department never notified the court that Hilton would be released early and that the undisclosed "medical condition" was too vague to warrant her release.

The judge was persuaded and ordered LA Sheriff's to immediately take Hilton back to jail at the Twin Towers correctional facility, where she arrived at approximately 1 pm PST. After the judge's ruling today, Hilton reportedly broke down screaming and crying. (read about Paris' meltdown in court)

In his motion filed yesterday afternoon, Delgadillo asked the court to order the LA Sheriff's Department “to show cause regarding [sic] contempt” of the judge’s original ruling and order “the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to transport Paris Whitney Houston in custody to court for this hearing.”

(MTB reported first - yesterday - that Hilton would be taken into police custody in handcuffs and taken to this morning's hearing.)

Delgadillo concludes his filing: “Time is of the essence to ensure compliance with this court’s order and to restore public confidence in the fairness and equal treatment of all participants in the justice system.”

Message In The Bottle – No Partying for Paris for at least 45 Days

Delgadillo's arguments were firm and he and the judge agreed that Hilton's early release for a mysterious health condition (drug or alcohol withdrawals or nervous breakdown?) was a slap in the face of justice, especially considering the high-profile nature of the case and Hilton's continued contempt for the law.

While Hilton's lawyers argued for other accommodations due to Hilton's apparent health problems, there was no chance Hilton would have been sent to some “alternative” jail, like the one she bragged that she could “go to if I wanted." Rather, she told the world last Sunday night that she was going to do her time “the right way” and hopefully be “an example to others.”

The magnitude of what happened today should not to be underplayed. Aside from the fact that the media and the public love to see spoiled celebrities in turmoil, Paris Hilton made herself into THE example now of two systems of justice in LA – one for the poor and minorities and one for the rich and usually, not always, non-minorities.

Keep in mind that rapper R. Kelly has still not gone to trial five years since allegations of sexual misconduct with an underage girl surfaced.

But that has nothing to do with Paris Hilton, it just helps put it into perspective a bit for how people in LA see and know the legal system of the nation’s craziest city.

If Hilton had not been returned to jail, who knows what would have happened in Los Angeles. But we do know that the outrage would have been greatly elevated from yesterday's outrage that she was released after only serving three days.

Now there are definitely some who say that the judge's ruling today - that Hilton now serve her entire, original 45-day sentence - was a bit harsh, but chances are Hilton will either be released again early due to health reasons or good behavior.

Hilton's lawyers said just an hour ago that they will appeal the judge's ruling.

Labels: Paris Hilton, Paris Hilton Back to Jail, Paris Hilton Court Hearing, Paris Hilton Jail

posted by Googe | 1:40 PM   

 

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