This might be a good time for Paris Hilton to try and take up reading, because a judge just threw the book at her.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Friday sentenced Hilton -- the rich, beautiful hotel heiress who has turned robo-nightclubbing, zealous self-indulgence and vapid reality TV catchphrases ("That's hot") into a lucrative industry -- to 45 days in jail Friday for violating her probation. Hilton starts her sentence June 5 at a women's jail in suburban Lynwood.
The sentencing will no doubt reverberate throughout Hollywood, where it's often assumed that rich, A-list celebs can get their lawyers to speed-dial them out of trouble for minor brushes with the law. But Hilton is headed to jail and will not be allowed any work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail, Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled after a hearing.
The only downside we can find in all this is that work-suit orange is probably going to be kind of a nice color for her.
"I'm very sorry, and from now on, I'm going to pay complete attention to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all," a teary Hilton told the judge before he announced the sentence. Reports said Hilton showed up for her hearing looking somber and serious. She also showed up at least 10 minutes late.
As a city prosecutor said during closing arguments that Hilton deserved jail time, Hilton's mother Kathy laughed. When the judge ruled, Kathy Hilton,
then blurted out: "May I have your autograph?"
Hilton was accused of violating her probation on an alcohol-related reckless driving charge. Police say she was twice caught driving with a suspended license. Hilton contended she wasn't aware her license was suspended. Prosecutors contended that even a mollusk with a learning disability should have been able to figure out, after the first traffic stop, that their license was suspended, or words to that effect.
HOLD EVERYTHING ON BRITNEY: "There is no Britney Spears show here on Monday." That was the word Friday, via e-mail, from the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco.
The nightclub's Web site on Thursday had advertised a concert by the M+Ms, the "band" that has been a front for a series of short (11-15 minutes each), heavily lip-synced shows staged by Spears and some backup dancers this week at a handful of Southern California clubs. The shows have drawn packed crowds of fans and curious onlookers, as well as a series of sneering dismissals from bloggers and reviewers.
The Red Devil Lounge's site on Thursday had listed the M+Ms for Monday night, with tickets going on sale Friday. But the concert was moved from the club's calendar by Friday, and the club now insists there is no show.
"We have not received or reviewed a demo from a 'Britney Spears,' but we are open to discussions with her if she'd like to play," said an e-mail from S.F. booking agent and Red Devil spokesman Jay Siegan. "We will also speak to Madonna if she is interested in a San Francisco play." Siegan did not say why a show that had been advertised on the club Web site on Thursday was a no-go the next day.
BRANDY SUED OVER FATAL CRASH: Singer-actor Brandy was sued for negligence and wrongful death by the husband of a waitress who was killed in a freeway crash involving the entertainer.
Marouane Hdidou filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He seeks unspecified damages. His wife, Awatef Aboudihaj, 38, of Los Angeles, died on Dec. 30 in a crash on the San Diego freeway.
A California Highway Patrol report said a Land Rover driven by Brandy, 28, whose full name is Brandy Norwood, failed to slow in traffic and was going 65 mph when it struck the back of a Honda driven by Aboudihaj. The Honda hit another vehicle, slid sideways and struck a center divider, then was hit by a car driven by 50-year-old Mallory Ham of Simi Valley, the report said.
A call to a representative for Brandy was not immediately returned Friday.
The city attorney's office is still deciding whether to charge Brandy with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, spokesman Frank Mateljan said.
EVE CHARGED WITH DUI: Los Angeles city prosecutors Friday formally filed misdemeanor charges against Eve stemming from a traffic accident in Hollywood last week. The rapper-actress (real name Jihan Jeffers) was charged with driving under the influence, driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or above and failure to provide proof of insurance. The charges stem from an April 26 arrest in which officers stopped Eve at 2:40 a.m. after her car struck a raised concrete center median on Hollywood Boulevard.