A judge sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail for violating her probation, putting the brakes on the hotel heiress' famous high life.
Hilton must go to jail by June 5, and she will not be allowed any work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail, Superior Court Judge Michael Sauer ruled.
Saying "there's no doubt she knew her license had been suspended," the judge ruled that she was in violation of the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.
"I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all," Hilton told the judge before he announced the sentence.
She was ordered to report to a women's jail by the set date or face 90 days behind bars. The ruling excluded her from paying to serve time in a jail of her choice, as some people are allowed.
Hilton testified she believed her license was initially suspended for 30 days and that she was allowed to drive for work purposes during the next 90 days.
When an officer who stopped her in January made her sign a document stating her license was suspended, she said she thought he was mistaken and did not actually look at the document.
Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz, testified that to his knowledge, Hilton did not drive during the 30-day period. He said he then advised her that he believed her license was no longer suspended.
The judge called Mintz's testimony worthless and expressed disbelief at Hilton's lawyers.
"I can't believe that either attorney did not tell her that the suspension had been upheld," the judge said. "She wanted to disregard everything that was said and continue to drive no matter what."
Defense attorney Howard Weitzman said he would appeal.
"I'm shocked, I'm surprised and really disheartened in the system that I've worked in for close to 40 years," Weitzman said.
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