Hilton Pleads No Contest in DUI
By ASSOCIATED PRESS - January 22, 2007
Paris Hilton was placed on 36 months probation and ordered to pay fines after pleading no contest Monday to alcohol-related reckless driving, a reduction of an original charge of driving under the influence.
Hilton, 25, did not appear in the Los Angeles court.
The plea was entered by her attorneys Howard Weitzman and Shawn Chapman Holley, the city attorney's office said.
Judge Michael Sauer also ordered her to attend an alcohol education program and imposed other conditions.
He gave Hilton the option of reducing her probation to 24 months if she completed 40 hours of community service. No immediate decision was made on that option. The fines, plus penalty assessments, totaled about $1,500.
"The city attorney believes that this is a fair disposition to this case," said Assistant City Attorney Ellen Sarmiento.
Hilton's publicist, Elliot Mintz, said he spoke with her after the proceeding. "She told me that she was happy the matter is over," said Mintz, without further comment.
Hilton was arrested Sept. 7 after allegedly being seen weaving on a Hollywood street in her Mercedes-Benz.
Police said she appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. She had a blood alcohol level of .08 percent, the level at which an adult driver is in violation of the law.
Hilton later said she may have been "speeding a little bit" and was on her way to get a hamburger because she had filmed a music video all day without eating.
The hotel heiress, singer, actress and handbag designer said she had consumed only a single margarita at a charity event that evening.
A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is equivalent to a guilty plea for determining sentencing.
The reduction from the original charge is allowed under California's driving-under-the-influence laws.
Various terms of Hilton's sentence include not driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in her system and not refusing alcohol tests. The alcohol program involves attending a dozen classes.
Hilton has starred with sometime-friend Nicole Richie in the reality TV show "The Simple Life."
Article courtesy of http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/
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