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Last Updated: Dec 15, 2007 - 2:55:41 AM |
LOS ANGELES - The circus that follows Paris Hilton almost everywhere was out in full force Friday at Superior Court here, with hangers-on toting signs and dancing jigs before the judge's ruling to return her to jail reduced most to stunned silence.
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| Kathy Hilton, center, and her husband Rick Hilton, right, parents of Paris Hilton, leave a courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, June 8, 2007. Paris Hilton was sent screaming and crying back to jail Friday after a judge ruled that she must serve out her sentence behind bars rather than in the comfort of her Hollywood Hills home. Other family members are unidentified. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) |
"Oh no," "Melrose" Larry Green muttered softly, shaking his head at the news that the celebutante was heading back to the slammer for violating her probation on a reckless driving conviction.
"People are just jealous of her because her name is Hilton, and she's part of the Hilton hotels," the local eccentric and supporter of offbeat causes had said a couple hours earlier.
"I love the Hilton hotels, especially the one in New York," said Green, an occasional guest on Howard Stern's radio show.
The ruling by Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer also had its supporters.
"I think justice was served," civil-rights activist Najee Ali said. "It helps restore the public confidence that was eroding nationally with the star-struck judicial system."
At the same time, Ali expressed sympathy for the star of TV's "The Simple Life."
"This is not a time to celebrate. It is a time to pray for her and her family," he said.
Earlier, news helicopters buzzed Hilton's Hollywood Hills home and paparazzi swarmed a sheriff's patrol car as the sobbing, handcuffed heiress was placed inside and driven to the court.
Inside the courtroom, Hilton's hair was askew and she wore no makeup. She cried throughout the hearing.
Outside, Hilton defenders were outnumbered by TV crews and other journalists who swarmed the courthouse just a day after the Sheriff's Department released her for an undisclosed medical reason.
At times it was hard to separate supporters from wannabe stars and promoters of films and TV shows.
Some people handed out T-shirts for the celebrity Web site TMZ.com, and a plane flew overhead towing a banner proclaiming, "We love Paris."
One person claiming to be a Hilton supporter turned out to be a writer for the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show. He screamed "no, no, no" after learning Hilton was going back to jail.
Several people who appeared with Hilton in episodes of "The Simple Life" also showed up.
Among them was Joey Carmona, who said the heiress inspired him to lose 30 pounds when she paid a visit to a weight-loss camp as part of the show.
"She supported us on that show, and we're here to support her now," he said before the start of the hearing.
Carmona wouldn't say whether he thought Hilton had been treated fairly by the judicial system or should be returned to jail.
"That's really not for me to say," he said.
Another supporter, Arlene Hampton, held a sign with a photograph of herself and the heiress and the words: "Prayn4U. Love, Arlene."
"She was very supportive, very open and very personable," when she visited the weight-loss camp, Hampton said.
Moses Baltazar, who was there hoping to clear up a traffic ticket, wasn't in Hilton's camp.
He said the hotel heiress only tipped him a dollar when he worked as a valet, even though he went to the trouble of keeping paparazzi away from her.
He said he felt Hilton should be returned to jail.
"Driving like that, you have to behave," said Baltazar, 20. "If you're rich, you have money, you have to respect yourself."
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