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LOS ANGELES - Paris Hilton says she will not appeal against her 45-day jail sentence for probation violation, saying she is "learning and growing" from her time behind bars and wants the media to turn their attention to other things, such as the war in Iraq.
"Today, I told my attorneys not to appeal the judge's decision," Hilton said in a statement released yesterday by her lawyer.
"While I greatly appreciate the sheriff's concern for my health and welfare, I intend to serve my time at LA County Jail."
The hotel heiress is being housed in a maximum-security detention centre where she is believed to be undergoing medical and psychiatric evaluations to determine the best jail to keep her in as she serves the rest of her sentence.
Hilton's return to jail, in tears and screaming for her mother, came when her original sentencing judge ordered her inside, ending her brief stint under house arrest at her Hollywood Hills home.
The Simple Life star was escorted from the courtroom shouting "Mom, Mom. It's not right." Her mother, Kathy Hilton, also sobbed, "It's not right!"
"Being in jail is by far the hardest thing I have ever done," Hilton said in her later statement. "During the past several days, I have had a lot of time to think and I believe that I am learning and growing from this experience.
"I must also say that I was shocked to see all of the attention devoted to the amount of time I would spend in jail for what I had done by the media, public and city officials," her statement continued.
"I would hope ... that the public and the media will focus on more important things like the men and women serving our country in Iraq and other places."
Hilton's lawyers had sought to keep her out of jail on the grounds that the 26-year-old was suffering an unspecified medical condition.
Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer suggested that could be taken care of in prison medical facilities.
Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore wouldn't discuss Hilton's condition, but Sheriff Lee Baca indicated on Friday that it was psychological. He said she arrived at her original jail with a condition he hadn't been apprised of and it immediately began to deteriorate to the point that he feared for her safety.
Hilton's new cell is a little roomier than the last, at a little more than 9.3sq m, with a toilet, sink and "a sliver of a window".
But she may end up back at the Century Regional Detention Centre in Lynwood, a gritty city south of Los Angeles, depending on the results of her assessment by the facility's doctors.
Hilton has now clocked up seven days of her sentence.
With time off for good behaviour, she could be released in a little more than two weeks.
The trouble began on September 7, when she failed a sobriety test after police saw her weaving down a street in her Mercedes.
She pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to 36 months' probation, alcohol education and US$1500 ($2025) in fines.
She was sentenced to jail after driving two more times on a suspended licence.
Meanwhile, some in Hollywood are turning on Hilton.
"I think all heiresses should be put in prison on general principle," actor John Cusack said.
Samuel L Jackson said: "The story is way bigger than what it needs to be. C'mon! For real!"
-AAP
