In an apparent about face, Paris Hilton is now accepting her 45 day jail term.
The Hotel heiress, who had vowed to seek a pardon after a California judge sentenced her to jail for driving on a suspended license, said through a spokesman that she is ready to face the consequences of her actions. "I am ready to face the consequences of violating probation," Hilton said in a statement released Wednesday by her new attorney, DUI specialist Richard Hutton. "I do not expect to be treated better than anyone else who violated probation. However, my hope is that I will not be treated worse."
The 26-year-old Hilton was represented by attorney Howard Weitzman during her probation-violation hearing last week. Neither Weitzman, who once represented pop star Michael Jackson and former football great O.J. Simpson, nor Hutton could immediately be reached for comment. Hilton said she released the statement because she felt the need "to correct what I believe are misperceptions about me."
"I absolutely realize how serious driving under the influence is," she said. "I could not live with myself if anyone was injured or killed while I was driving while impaired. Clearly, no one should - no matter how slightly." Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in county jail for violating the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. A judge ordered her to report to the women's jail in suburban Lynwood, California by June 5, adding that she will not be allowed any work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring instead of time behind bars. On Hilton’s website, the heiress admitted to being worried about potential problems with inmates when she is incarcerated. Hilton allegedly has already received threats from inmates, according to various media reports.
One of the inmates at the California jail has posted a message on Hilton’s website saying 'I'm going to kill you.' A friend of Hilton’s told the London Sun that others have also sent messages explaining how they are going to trouble her and if she argues, they will beat her up. "One person wrote she is going to steal Paris’s shoes — and if she argues, she’ll be beaten to a pulp. It's horrifying," the Sun quoted the friend, as saying.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said Hilton will get a cell that is for persons with special needs, and that she will share the room with just one more inmate. "She’s going to be assigned a two-person cell in an area for inmates with special needs, and she most likely will have another inmate in the cell with her," Whitmore told the AP.
Hilton has admitted that she is really scared, but she is very grateful to the support calls that she has been getting. "I’m very scared but I’m grateful for the support and calls I’m getting," Hilton said on her site.
