All posts containing the tag: "lee baca"
Posted Jun 26th 2007 6:34PM by TMZ Staff
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.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paris Hilton
Tags: lee baca, LeeBaca, paris hilton, ParisHilton
Posted Jun 26th 2007 5:26PM by TMZ Staff
L.A. Sheriff Lee Baca addressed reporters in the hallway before facing the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, and he had a few choice words for Paris Hilton.
While waiting to be interviewed at the meeting, he addressed reporters with, "Paris, do a better job in your life." When asked if he had a more specific message for the heiress he replied, "Redirect your energy ... Stay out of trouble and follow the law." When a reporter asked about Paris receiving special treatment, the Sheriff said, "Yes, she got special treatment ... she got more time in jail than anybody in her situation." Burn!
Baca is waiting for his turn in the hotseat while the Supervisors discuss other topics.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paris Hilton
Tags: Lee Baca, LeeBaca, Paris Hilton, ParisHilton
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."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paris Hilton
Tags: lee baca, LeeBaca, paris hilton, ParisHilton, sheriff
