Paris Hilton to enter plea agreement, avoid felony charge in Las Vegas drug arrest

Paris Hilton to avoid felony in Las Vegas arrest

LAS VEGAS — Paris Hilton will serve a year of probation and avoid a felony conviction under the terms of a plea deal worked out with prosecutors following her arrest on drug charges in Las Vegas, Clark County District Attorney David Roger said Friday.

Hilton has agreed to plead guilty Monday to two misdemeanors stemming from the Aug. 27 arrest, Roger said.

She was arrested inside the Wynn resort, after police say a small plastic bag containing 0.8 grams of cocaine fell out of her Chanel purse as she reached for a tub of lip balm in front of a police lieutenant.

A plea agreement obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Hilton will plead guilty to drug possession and obstructing an officer to avoid two consecutive six month-sentences in the Clark County Detention Center.

Instead, Hilton will serve a year of probation, the newspaper reported. She also must complete a drug abuse program, pay a $2,000 fine and serve 200 hours of community service.

Roger confirmed the details of plea deal reported by the Review-Journal. The original felony charge would not have resulted in any jail time.

Roger said he wanted to obtain a pledge from Hilton to stay out of trouble, and said the plea deal accomplished that goal.

“If she is arrested for anything besides a minor traffic violation she will spend a year in jail,” Roger said. “There will be no discussion. The court will have no discretion.”

David Chesnoff, the attorney representing the hotel heiress, said the agreement does not call for Hilton to be assigned a probation officer.

“Ms. Hilton understands the seriousness of the situation and appreciates the chance she is being given,” Chesnoff told The Associated Press. “She has to stay out of trouble.”

Hilton initially told police the purse and cocaine were not hers, but claimed some items in the bag, including rolling papers, $1,300 in cash and several credit cards.

She was questioned by police after her boyfriend, Las Vegas nightclub mogul Cy Waits, 34, failed field sobriety tests given by a motorcycle officer.

The couple was stopped in a black Cadillac Escalade after the officer smelled a “vapor trail” of marijuana smoke.

Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report.