Celebrity Justice
Sheriff: Paris' Life Was "Definitely in Danger"

In an exclusive interview with TMZ, L.A. Sheriff Lee Baca revealed that he reassigned Paris Hilton to house arrest because he feared her life was "definitely in danger."

Baca said, "When people are not functioning normally, they're not eating normally, they don't have a sense balance in their lives, God only knows what could happen." He added, "We've had plenty of people die in the county jail system, not because of anything we did, but because we didn't understand the medical problem."

Sheriff Baca came under fire for releasing Paris early to serve the remainder of her sentence under house arrest. Baca was questioned about that decision by the L.A. Board of Supervisors today.

Tags: lee baca, LeeBaca, paris hilton, ParisHilton

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

31. Seeing TMZ's turnaround about Paris is disconcerting. Your articles have turned from glib and gloating to highly sympathetic.

While I appreciate the journalistic ethic of "money buys my point of view," an editorial switch this obvious subverts my trust in this website as being my primary source of everything sordid about celebrities.

Posted at 4:58AM on Jun 27th 2007 by TMZFaithful

32. The Judge should be looked at by the bar or who over sees him. According to Larry King Sunday the under sheriff the judge didn't even care about her medical condition.

Faking or not the judge should listen to the doctors and read the reports before just making up his mind.

Posted at 6:19AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Randall Lind

33. Next time you want to use the word God in your articles, please have some respect. Capitalize at least the letter G!

Posted at 6:31AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Think about this...

34. OH NO!!! An inmate with a life threatening health problem!!!

Well let every inmate in that situation out of jail, Sheriff. Does a spoiled brat's fit count more than AIDS, cancer or cardiac disease??? Is it more life threatening than these medically recognized conditions???

GET REAL!!! WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID!!!

We are not a dumb as Paris Hilton and most of us can spell "HOT", we don't have to use it as our life's mantra.

Posted at 6:52AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Nina

35. he waz right 2 let her out!she got an unjust sentence cause the judge waz biased against her 4 being hot and liking 2 party!im claustrophobic its a real disorder and jail iz cruel and unusual pun ishment it feels like being beried alive 2 claustrophobics.the judge couldnt care less except about his fashist"law and order"and he should be removed from the bench.

Posted at 7:03AM on Jun 27th 2007 by todd lissner anti adult anti wholesomeness activist( kadintodd2@aol.com)

36. I think it was your career that was in danger. That and your second pension from the Hiltons.

Posted at 7:05AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Fact check

37. Is Baca STILL spinning?
She did more time than some (ask yourself why), and less time than others.
Didn't Baca blatently disregard a court order that specified 'no house arrest'?




Posted at 8:21AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Emporer'sNewClothes

38. Paris is the one who put her own life and others in danger by her drunken drug use, driving DUI and keeping her from doing these things actually gave her time to dry out and to sober up, until the fake doctor came and got her high again with a new addiction perk. Who doesn't know ADD meds is also considered a cheap Appetite Suppressant in LA?

Posted at 8:33AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Pepsi Lite

39. Who actually gives a crap??? How many other lives are in danger when in jail, do they think that she is the only one that has ever been in jail that has not liked it?
This attention is pathetic. I am sure that there are many more that need to be in the slammer.

What about Brandy killing someone in a car wrech? Whatever happened to that stupid bitch?

Posted at 1:39PM on Jun 27th 2007 by firefly

40. Posting #26 (Meg)-Baca is a SSSSS. He let Paris out because of who she is and I'm sure her mother had something to do with it. I personally think that Paris should have served the whole 45 days behind bars. First of all she was caught driving under the influence of alcohol (no,no, especially when you have designated drivers at your disposal). Have you ever had a faily member killed by a DRUNK DRIVER???WELL I HAVE AND IT'S A VERY PAINFUL. HOPE YOU NEVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT. Second of all she was caught twice, not once drving on a suspended license. She's 26 years old and should be taking her life in her own hands (stop making excuses that her it's everone else's fault). Third she has the nerve to show up to her court hearing for probation violation LATE (total disrespect for the court system/law). I guess what Baca is really saying is that Paris is CRAZY!!!!!! I always knew that. Look at her mother and her disrepect for the law. I wonder how they would feel (Kathy and Rick) if one of their children were KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER???????? I bet they would have a total different look and would want that person put in prison forever.

Posted at 9:12AM on Jun 28th 2007 by Bridget

41. The sheriff's and idiot who should be fired.

Posted at 9:26AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Joanne

42. Maybe he expected $$$ from the Hiltons.

Posted at 9:27AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Joanne

43. And now we find a report in today's New York Post that Paris was allowed money in the pokey, she had guards acting as her slaves and racked up a bill for extra cosmetics that other inmates were't allowed to have. The only danger this person was in was that she missed a few parties.

Posted at 10:04AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Paris the Convict

44. Maybe the sheriff thought he would get $$$ from the Hiltons. Asshole.

Posted at 10:08AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Joanne

45. To #5 whatever. Celebrities do not deserve special treatments! I want to see you being thrown in jail for the same offense as Paris Hilton and watch Paris "serving" her time in her mansion while you rot away in your jail cell, all because she's famous and you are NOT!

Posted at 10:33AM on Jun 27th 2007 by Shop Girl

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