Paris ready for 'consequences' May 10, 2007 12:00am
FIVE days after she was sentenced to jail, Paris Hilton says she understands the seriousness of driving under the influence and that she is not "above the law".
"I am ready to face the consequences of violating probation,'' Hilton said in a statement released today by her new attorney, Richard Hutton, a specialist in driving under the influence cases.
"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 socialite was represented by attorney Howard Weitzman during her probation-violation hearing on Friday
A receptionist at Hutton's Pasadena office declined to say when Hilton retained his services. Hutton did not return repeated calls for comment.
Hilton said she released the statement because "I feel the need to correct what I believe are misperceptions about me''.
"I absolutely realise 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.''
The notorious party girl, who parlayed her pampered lifestyle into a reality TV show and a pop CD, 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 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.
Hilton's original legal team, headed by Weitzman, filed a notice with the court on Friday indicating their intent to appeal the decision.
On Monday it emerged Hilton was backing an online campaign to request California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to issue a pardon.
An internet petition calls on Schwarzenegger to intervene in the case, claiming Hilton has been used as a scapegoat by authorities seeking to highlight the dangers of drink-driving.
"We, the American public who support Paris, are shocked, dismayed and appalled by how Paris has been the person to be used as an example that Drunk Driving is wrong,'' the petition reads.
A spokesman for Schwarzenegger indicated an intervention from the movie-star turned politician was unlikely.
"It would be inappropriate for the governor to insert himself in this battle until the individual has exhausted all of his or her legal remedies,'' Schwarzenegger press secretary Aaron McLear told local broadcast network ABC 7.
"And at this point I don't think this is the case.''
Hilton must begin her prison sentence at the Los Angeles Century Regional Detention Facility on June 5 or risk seeing her sentence doubled.
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