Burton Katz
The ‘art’ of celebrity justicel
Alas, Paris Hilton has taken the stage. Spector must be consigned to the ash heap of current events. This is Paris time!
Here’s what we know. As predicted in a previous article, the good Sheriff Lee Baca skewered Judge Michael Sauer’s sentence of 45 days in jail for Hilton for a violation of probation. After just a few days in jail, three to be exact, Baca and his staff released Hilton for unspecified medical reasons to home custody at her Sunset strip mansion, where she was to be monitored by an electronic bracelet.
Baca decided that his jails were too full to supply a “room” for Hilton. After all, he reasoned, such valuable space must be reserved for the truly deserving-the violent and repeat offenders. Hilton, a celebrity glam babe, is just a misguided luminary who is no threat to society, if released. Since he was the guardian of his jails, and responsible for the well-being of his guests, the good sheriff reasoned that he could simply release her at a time he deemed appropriate. And, as a throw away, the sheriff said he was also releasing her because of her alleged “medical condition.”
Ah, but there was one little hitch. Judge Sauer had expressly forbidden Hilton to serve her time in a special “celebrity” jail or home on probation monitored by an electronic bracelet. He wanted Hilton to serve 45 days for contemptuous behavior and repeat violations of her original probationary sentence of 36 months. And he wanted her to be treated just like any other probation violator. Above all, he wanted her to follow the rules.
Remember, the original offense for which Hilton was arrested was a DUI. While she pled to a lesser offense of reckless driving, the court can consider the fact that Hilton was driving under the influence in assessing the seriousness of her conduct to be addressed at sentencing. Said another way, a simple reckless driving offense is one thing, but a reckless driving offense compounded by alcohol consumption that impairs driving, is quite another. More teenagers are said to die from drunk driving than from any other known cause. It is pandemic. Just ask any member of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). When you factor into this case the fact that Hilton violated a probationary sentence by her knowingly driving with a suspended license on at least two occasions, one in which she was also speeding in a car without its headlights on, you can understand the judge’s ire. She didn’t abide by the rules.
What we were left with was the predictable show down between Sauer and Baca. Sauer, upon learning of Hilton’s release to her home, angrily held a hearing to determine the basis of her release in violation of his order. Baca, through department aides, made it clear that nonviolent misdemeanor offenders are often released after serving only 10 percent of their time. Indeed, Michelle Rodriguez of “Lost” was released after serving four hours of a 60-day sentence.
Sauer, however, would have none of that and, after a hearing at which Hilton was unceremoniously brought to court in handcuffs, ordered her return to jail to finish the 45 days previously imposed. Apparently, Sauer was not impressed with the unsupported claim that Hilton was suffering from depression and mental illness.
Baca, while indicating that he would not attempt to interfere again with the judge’s sentence, quipped: “My message to those who don’t like celebrities is that punishing celebrities more than the average is not justice.”
The good sheriff put his finger on why Hilton’s treatment is the hot topic throughout the world-“celebrity Justice”-what does it mean?
Justice for the rich, justice for the poor? Justice for the powerful, justice for the weak? We all know the anecdotal stories.
Now it has been reported that attorney Gloria Allred has entered the fray by threatening to file a suit against Baca and the sheriff’s office for discriminatory treatment of her client who failed to receive the “Paris” treatment. What else did you expect? I’m sure Lisa Bloom will air it on “Court TV.”
The truth is that “celebrity justice” wears two hats. It can mean either undeserved favorable treatment or harsher treatment. It is always tempting for a judge to consider the impact of a sentence that will have a positive effect on the public. If a celebrity can do time for a “wet” reckless, then, so can Joe Smith. So don’t drink and drive. But if the judge is unwilling to give that same sentence to a normal “Joe,” then the sentence is unfair.
Hilton will end up serving about 23 days since, like any inmate, she is entitled to good time credits. Probably seven to 10 days of straight time would have been enough to get Hilton’s attention.