Paris Hilton will plead guilty, but avoid jail time

Reported by Las Vegas Review-Journal

Ms. Hilton understands the seriousness of the situation and appreciates the chance she is being given. She has to stay out of trouble.” – Paris Hilton’s lawyer, David Chesnoff

Celebrity socialite Paris Hilton has agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanors in her pending drug possession case, netting her a year of probation but no jail time.

Hilton is scheduled to formally plead guilty Monday to misdemeanor drug possession and misdemeanor obstructing an officer before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure.

The 29-year-old was arrested late on Aug. 27 on one felony count of cocaine possession after she opened a Chanel flap bag to get some lip balm and a small plastic bag of cocaine fell out, landing in the palm of a Las Vegas police lieutenant.

The original felony charge would not have resulted in any jail time. By statute a conviction for felony cocaine possession requires mandatory probation.

According to the plea agreement obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, two consecutive six-month sentences in the Clark County Detention Center will be suspended and Hilton will be placed on year long probation.

If Hilton is arrested during her probation, she will have to serve a full year in jail, according to the plea deal.

“Defendant shall stay out of trouble. Defendant agrees that an arrest for any charge, excluding minor traffic violations for which a citation is issued, shall result in the immediate termination of her probation and the execution of the suspended sentences,” the plea deal states. A minor traffic violation is anything other than a reckless driving or driving under the influence charge.

Hilton must also successfully complete a substance abuse program, pay a $2,000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service, according to the plea deal. The nature and location of the community service will be determined later.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger said, “We fashioned a resolution which would give us complete control over her future. If she does not toe the line and stay out of trouble she will do one year in the Clark County Detention Center.”

Most other defendants would not have a year of jail hanging over their heads for being arrested, Roger said. Normally a conviction would be necessary.

“There are very strict limits on her future conduct. We will not have to litigate whether she was convicted of the charge or whether the charge was a major or minor offense,” Roger said.

Roger said prison time was not an option because of the limitations on the charge by statute, and that Hilton won’t get special treatment. She will have to walk through the front doors of the courthouse “just like any other criminal defendant,” he said.

David Chesnoff, the attorney representing the hotel heiress, could not be reached for comment Friday.

According to an amended criminal complaint, the obstructing charge was added because Hilton lied to police when she said the Chanel bag wasn’t hers. Hilton told police the purse and the cocaine belonged to someone else, though other things in it — $1,300 cash, credit cards, cigarette rolling papers and a prescription pill to treat asthma — belonged to her. Hilton said she thought the cocaine was gum, according to her arrest report.

“In truth, the Defendant purchased the Chanel handbag months earlier,” the complaint states.

The Chanel handbag was featured in numerous tabloid photos the night of the event, and it was soon discovered that Hilton had on July 15 posted a photo of the bag on her Twitter account, saying, “Love my new Chanel purse I got today : ).”

From: admin
Time: September 18, 2010, 10:09 am

This is perhaps a good opportunity for her to think back and say to herself: “I will be more careful in the future, and I will no longer be involved in illegal activities.” Enough already. There is no reason for her to get arrested again, unless if there is a setup or if she has an addiction problem, which is HIGHLY unlikely!

In any case, it would make absolutely no sense to see her behind bars for a full year. She’s too successful and has so much going in her life. I mean even if it was for a small amount of drug possession… But the law is the law. She should follow it like anyone else.

Stay out of trouble, be responsible, don’t trust everyone and watch your back!

From: thewaymouth
Time: September 18, 2010, 3:59 pm

Paris is free!
That’s what counts. In large amounts.

Re: ‘The law is the law…’

Right now three states still have anti-homosexual “conduct” laws: Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Should those laws be followed? I say, hell no.

Paris did not endanger anyone. She was not behind the wheel this time. To me, the drug laws are wrong. Wrongful laws do not have to be followed. She committed no crime in my eyes.

In America, ‘the land of the free’ and the world’s largest prison population, the golden rule is don’t get caught.

Unless Paris does not fear a year of prison, it would be a ‘good thing’ for her to be more careful. At least for the next year.

William S. Burroughs:
‘…Thanks for Prohibition and the war against drugs.

Thanks for a country where nobody’s allowed to mind their own business.”

From: retrograde
Time: September 18, 2010, 4:45 pm

Wait so if she had been convicted she would not have gone to jail but the terms of the plea bargain are that she as a suspended sentence of 1 year in prison? That doesn’t make any sense to me. I feel like she’s doing them a favor by not making this case drag on any longer but she’s still being mistreated by the court system.
Whatever, at least this mess is over with and she can put it behind her and move on. I agree with admin, I hope she sees this as an opportunity to keep her act clean. There’s no reason for her to get into any more legal trouble. She’s almost 30 and I feel like with her support system, business, and past few relationships she has matured more and more. Hopefully now she’ll grow up some more and continue to be a great businesswoman/star with no more problems.
And put out her goddamn new album already!!!!!!!!! xD

From: admin
Time: September 18, 2010, 5:12 pm

I think it comes to the same thing. They would’ve still placed her on probation, and there would still be the possibility of going to jail. By accepting this plea, she’s avoiding it.

I just want her to continue focusing on her career and eventually settle down with a decent guy and live a normal life. There is no need for her to do crazy things and get into trouble for nothing.