John K. Pierson ESQ.
PIERSON FIRM
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Attorneys say Paris Got What She Deserved, Unlikely to Win Appeal
May 7th, 2007
Mistakes made by Paris Hilton compounded by defense missteps.
Lawyers say “Simple Life Behind Bars” is justified
By Jeffrey Jolson
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 4/7/07 — “Everything I do is blown out of proportion,” said Paris Hilton upon her drunk driving arrest last September. She made sure of it in a series of actions that even some defense attorneys say leave very little chance of appeal to her 45-day jail sentence.
“I feel that I was treated unfairly and that the sentence is both cruel and unwarranted. I don’t deserve this,” Hilton said six months later, after the judge threw the book at her.
“Paris is unlikely to win an appeal or change of venue,” said celebrity trial attorney John Pierson. “An appeal court will find that nothing was wrong in the handling of the case or the sentence. They will not re-try the case; she got caught multiple times on violation of probation where there is little due process protection. They played the trial hand and lost. They basically tied the courts hands, leaving the judge no choice but to hand down a full sentence.”
“The best thing for the family now is to lay low, make no comments to the press, and hope the jailer will release her early, as they have done for many non-violent offenders in the over-crowded L.A. jails. My only other advice to her now is to say ‘Yes, sir. Yes, m’am’ and keep your mouth your mouth shut when you are in prison.”
However, Sheriff Lee Baca’s office said that an early release would not happen. Until late last year, overcrowded jail facilities in the county had led Baca to release most inmates early, including immediately processing out anyone sentenced to less than 90 days in jail. That is no longer true, and Baca’s spokesman, Steve Whitmore, told the Los Angeles Times that his understanding of the judge’s order meant Hilton was likely to serve the full 45 days.
“She disregarded everything and continued to drive,” Judge Sauer said.
Anthony Keidis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, said it could perhaps make her a better person or have other positive effects. “Maybe it will turn out to be a great part of her life,” he said on a Hollywood red carpet over the weekend.
Paris’ mother Kathy Hilton said “This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money with this nonsense. It’s a joke.” Weitzman added the sentence was “uncalled for, inappropriate and bordered on the ludicrous” and that the hotel heiress is being “singled out.”
Her publicist Elliot Mintz is apparently being made the fall guy, even though he fell on his sword for her in court, testifying it was all his fault for mis-informing her that she was cleared to drive to and from work. He was reportedly sacked for his efforts.
A steady parade of TV lawyers have been chiming in. “She’s going to the pokey and this is what she deserves,” said family law attorney Susan Moss on CNN. Because she was convicted of a DUI, she had many conditions that she had to follow. She followed absolutely none of them. And now we are hearing no pocketbook justice. Mom sat in the courtroom and said that this was a waste of public taxpaying dollars? Well, what it was a waste is that she showed up late. Everyone else, all the taxpayer-paid court officers had to sit there and wait for Paris Hilton to arrive.”
Cops too, are angry at the model. ““She`s been thumbing her nose at the system for a long, long time. Rules don`t apply to Paris Hilton. They do now,” said former police officer Mike Brooks. “She`ll get out of her cell one hour a day. She`ll get a little TV, she gets to take a shower. But also at this jail, apparently, there`s no beef or pork, so she better get used to chicken.”
Not to mention Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, the lobbying group responsible for most of the growing list of mandatory sentencing requirements on DUI cases. “I think 45 days is a gift, she should have served the 90 days. Paris Hilton thinks we are so stupid that we`re going to believe she didn’t know her license was suspended,” said former MADD director in Georgia Sheryl McCollum to Nancy Grace. “She`s still not taking it seriously. Because when she`s stopped again by the police, who does she call? Her publicist, not her lawyer.”
Not everyone on Grace’s legal roundup program agreed that Hilton should be tarred and feathered.
Defense attorney Alex Sanchez said “Let`s keep this case in perspective here. Paris Hilton is not a major felon. She didn`t hurt anybody. She didn`t kill anybody. She`s not some morally reprehensible individual. She made some mistakes, and she`s a troubled person. But shouldn`t jail be reserved for — as an absolute last resort? Why is Paris Hilton being made an example?”
“There are no alcohol or drugs in this recent incident,” added attorney Greg McKeithen. “Other options could have been considered. For example, why not place her under house arrest, with strict monitoring conditions in place?”
Pierson noted at least six mistakes made on the defense:
1.She should not have been late, it shows contempt for the proceedings.
2.She brought in too much lawyer in high-profile attorney Howard Wietzman on a case where he couldn’t do any good – and a quiet local attorney may been better.
3.The fought the case when pre-trial conversations with prosecutor and judge might have resulted in less time or a less severe jail.
4.Paris’ mother Kathy Hilton should not have, in effect, heckled the prosecution or baited the judge.
5.The testimony of Paris’ publicist that he had given her incorrect advice was useless. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
6.They should not have talked to the press.
Until Paris hears that door slam in county jail she may still believe it’s all a show: “When I got pulled over, there was a lot of paparazzi around, so I think (the police) were trying to make a statement. And they even said, you know, there`s people watching. We don`t want them to think we`re giving you special treatment.”
Yes, Paris. They certainly are making a statement to that effect. But this reality show has a second act.
“The Simple Life Behind Bars.”
Photos by Karl Larsen
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