Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail after violating her probation stemming from a 2006 DUI arrest.
On May 4, 2007, Hilton arrived at L.A.’s Metropolitan Courthouse, 10 minutes late to her scheduled 1:30PM hearing regarding two incidents of driving on a suspended license.
In the courtroom, Paris claimed that she had no idea her license was suspended, despite paperwork in her car stating so, and blamed the gaff on publicist Elliot Mintz, who gave her the OK to drive.
Elliot backed the claims, but Judge Michael T. Sauer dismissed his testimony as “completely worthless,” the prosecution adding: “[Hilton] knew she couldn’t drive, and she did it anyway.”
After brief deliberation, and an apologetic Paris telling the court, “I’m very sorry,” the judge handed down a 45-day sentence to be served at Century Regional Detention Facility - causing Kathy Hilton to shout: “This is pathetic! I can’t believe all the money we spent on this.”
Following the sentence, Mintz announced his departure from Camp Hilton, and a tearful Paris sought new legal counsel in famed DUI lawyer Richard Hutton.
Her new team quickly planned to file an appeal:
And she even took to MySpace to fight the decision, asking fans to sign a petition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom the Hiltons donated $60,000 in campaign funds to over the years:
Paris also told paparazzi camped outside her home the following morning that she considered the sentence to be “cruel” and “unwarranted”:
And sister Nicky agreed!
In addition to Aunt Kyle Richards:
Other celebrity supporters included The Hills’ Spencer Pratt, who launched his own MySpace petition and told Us Weekly: “It’s a shame that a miscommunication between her and her people is landing her in jail.”
And he wasn’t alone! Paris impersonator Natalie Reid showed her doppelganger some love:
So did Brit Brit:
And oddly enough, Lori Loughlin?
RedFreckles.com, whose CEO claimed Paris was a “loyal customer,” released $5 bracelets in support:
And Brandon Davis’ brother Jason was outraged by the sentence:
In addition to about two people in Greenwich Village:
But not everyone was Team Paris, former party palHayden Panettiere was less-than-forgiving of her friend’s indiscretions:
Kelly Osbourne couldn’t care less:
Firecrotch kept mum:
Joey Fatone& friends shared a few thoughts of their own:
Sophia Bush, whose ex Chad Michael Herpes cheated on her with Hilton, couldn’t resist smiling:
And Cheryl Burke was absolutely delighted by the news:
In addition to the women at The View!
Fellow socialite Candy Spelling also shared her thoughts on the matter, writing a scathing open letter to Hilton:
“Since you let this happen, use the next couple of weeks preparing not only by publicly learning to fight (not a good message to fellow inmates), but by looking around, realizing that you are not as truly entitled as your money implies.”
And former jailbird heiress Patty Hearst echoed Candy’s disdain, telling TMZ: “Forty-five days with Paris Hilton and the attendant publicity seems like cruel and unusual punishment to me. Perhaps THEY should be petitioning the Governor for relief?”
But one person who wasn’t losing any sleep over the matter? Judge Sauer, who received a standing ovation from fellow parishioners when he went to church the following morning.
Happy 10 Years!