Paris Hilton Pleads No Contest

By: Shannon Gossage

Per the city attorney’s office, Hilton’s lawyers Howard Weitzman and Shawn Chapman Holley entered the plea. Hilton was not present in the courtroom. She received 36 months probation and was ordered to pay fines totaling approximately $1,500. Judge Michael Sauer also ordered Hilton to attend an alcohol education program. He gave her the option of reducing her probation time to 24 months by completing 40 hours of community service. It has not yet been decided if Hilton will do the community service to decrease her probation time.

Elliott Mintz, Hilton’s publicist, said that he spoke with the heiress after the court proceedings ended. Mintz said, "She told me that she was happy the matter is over." Assistant City Attorney Ellen Sarmiento said, "The city attorney believes that this is a fair disposition to the case." The terms of Hilton’s probation include not refusing alcohol tests, not driving with "any measurable amount of alcohol in her system," and she must attend 12 alcohol education classes.

Hilton was arrested on September 7 after police allegedly saw her Mercedes driving erratically on a Hollywood street. Police officers felt she appeared intoxicated and then administered a field sobriety test, which Hilton failed. She had a blood alcohol level of .08, which is the legal minimum blood alcohol level to warrant an arrest according to California law. Hilton claimed that she had not eaten all day because she had been filming her latest video. She claims to have had one margarita at a charity event.