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Sheriff Baca: "This Lady Has Severe Problems"

Posted Jun 8th 2007 6:35PM by TMZ Staff

L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca claims there was simply no room at his jail for a "low-level offender" like Paris Hilton -- and her "severe" medical problems were only getting worse.

In a statement to the press, Baca said, "There's 20,000 inmates -- the largest jail system in the United States ... It's very overcrowded."

According to Baca, 90% of the inmates in L.A. County jail are serious felons -- many held on murder charges or attempted murder charges. Paris was one of the "low level" offenders -- who usually serve 10% of their sentences.

Baca also said that he reassigned Hilton based on "her severe medical problems," and confirmed TMZ's original story that her condition was mental. Baca said that her "increasingly deteriorating problems" were evaluated and added, "This lady has some severe problems."

Baca added that she was medicated when she originally entered the jail system ... and "I can't trust her tenuous status," referring to her mental state. "She had a severe problem," said Baca, "I need more cooperation from the courts and from the city attorney's office."

For now, Baca says he will comply with the court order and keep her behind bars -- "If there's any further deterioration, hopefully we'll be able to address it."

Tags: lee baca, LeeBaca, paris hilton, ParisHilton, sheriff

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(Page 3 of 94) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. I believe him. I am glad he is speaking on msnbc right now.
Paris Hilton should be removed from Jail when the red tape is done,
and then she should be transfered to a private rehab facility with
proper psychological counseling for metal health issues and alcohol abuse.
She needs a private rehab facility in order to get rehabilitated.

Posted at 7:00PM on Jun 8th 2007 by LYNNANDEMILY

32. There's lots of people with severe medical problems, and they still aren't above the law.

Posted at 6:48PM on Jun 8th 2007 by Chewi

33. AT LAST A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.......

"There's 20,000 inmates the largest jail system in the united states ... It's very overcrowded."

According to Baca, 90% serious felons -- many in his jail on murder charges or attempted murder charges.

Posted at 6:49PM on Jun 8th 2007 by Free Paris NOW!!!

34. Her severe problem is that she'a absolutley worthless.

Posted at 6:48PM on Jun 8th 2007 by MOOOOOOMMY!!!!!!

35. Yeah, she's got SEVERE problems: she's ugly, she's stupid, she's a drunk, and now she's a real jailbird.

Al that'd be enough to take the extensions outta anyone's hair!

Posted at 6:51PM on Jun 8th 2007 by Katy

36. ummmm, she had a cell, you had the room already.

Posted at 6:49PM on Jun 8th 2007 by tulip

37. I think a more severe problem is a Sheriff who thinks its his job to overturn a judge's orders because of his own personal opinion. Seems to me it was part of the judgement that no alternative punishment were to be used. Are you going to send her home with a stack of scientology books, Mr. Baca?

Posted at 6:48PM on Jun 8th 2007 by Valerie

38. But people with HIV don't have problems...Oh please! People who aren't rich and can't afford high powered attorneys wouldn't get this treatment! There were explicit demands and that Sheriff wanted to be a good guy in the media. She is getting her due. If it was me or any of you, we would have to serve through all the tears, mental pain, and possible breakdowns.

Posted at 1:54AM on Jun 10th 2007 by Whatever

39. No, Jeffrey Dahmer had "severe problems". Paris is just afraid of being in jail.

Posted at 6:49PM on Jun 8th 2007 by DarNel

40. This is how the LA Riots happened...The police didn't communicate (period) with City Hall. They should have just lived with it. She was released, wrongly it seems, but she was out. Why put her thru this when it's not her fault. WRONG!!!!

Posted at 6:49PM on Jun 8th 2007 by San

41. The only medical problem Paris has is she cannot face the REAL world.
She is living in FANTASYTLAND.

Posted at 6:49PM on Jun 8th 2007 by nana

42. Yea her severe medical problems are that she can't do whatever she wants when she wants and her mommies money can't help her now.

Posted at 6:49PM on Jun 8th 2007 by JR

43. If the jail has no room for "low level offenders" like Paris (broken probation for dui, speeding, no headlights), then why isn't this something that the sheriff has discussed with the city attorney and other authorities? In that case, no judge should ever sentence anyone to jail in LA unless they are murderers. This sounds crazy.

Yes, Paris has problems. Start with her family. Counseling needed for all. Parenting class (too late) for mom and dad Hilton. Drug rehab program for Paris and probably the rest of the family. That is, if you really care about the family and really want to help them. Otherwise, continue to treat them all as some sort of priviledged royalty who can do anything they please. Their lives will end in shambles.

Posted at 6:52PM on Jun 8th 2007 by Stop idolizing criminals/sluts

44. I agree. Over crowding SHOULD BE the reason not the excuse of illness that let's this poor girl out. This is ridiculas and I support the Hilton's! Another WACKO judge getting his fifteen minutes of fame on the back of this sick woman.

Posted at 6:50PM on Jun 8th 2007 by Momma

45. all of the HILTONS have MENTAL PROBLEMS
????

Posted at 6:50PM on Jun 8th 2007 by tony from jersy

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