Paris Hilton taken to court, risks return to jail

LOS ANGELES, June 8 (Reuters) Paris Hilton was put in handcuffs and taken from her home in a sheriff's car for a court hearing today that could end with the socialite being sent back to jail to serve out a three-week sentence.

Hilton, 26, was transferred from jail to house arrest yesterday for unspecified medical reasons after serving only three days of a 23-day sentence. That decision outraged local politicians and brought charges of celebrity privilege.

Los Angeles city prosecutors filed papers late yesterday demanding that Hilton be returned to jail.

They also demanded the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, which runs the jail system, be held in contempt for releasing her early and violating the sentencing order, which expressly barred electronic monitoring of Hilton.

Hilton, a hotel heiress and star of the television show ''The Simple Life,'' has become a symbol of America's fawning celebrity culture.

She had been expected to testify today by video conference from her lavish Hollywood Hills home, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Sauer told sheriffs to bring her to court.

Citing privacy issues, officials have given no details of Hilton's medical problems but speculation has ranged from a looming nervous breakdown to a rash.

Hilton entered jail on Sunday to serve a sentence -- originally seen by many as excessively harsh -- for violating her probation by driving on a license that had been suspended in an earlier reckless driving case.

Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, whose office prosecuted Hilton, said the sheriff's explanation for her house arrest was ''puzzling,'' noting county jails are ''well-equipped to deal with medical situations involving inmates.'' Hilton's reassignment to house arrest infuriated national and local politicians, who reported receiving hundreds of angry e-mails.

Civil rights leader Al Sharpton said yesterday her release from jail gave the appearance ''of economic and racial favoritism that is constantly cited by poor people and people of color.'' Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich called Hilton a ''spoiled brat, acting out to get her way instead of serving her time''.

But civil liberties lawyer E Christopher Murray said her jail term was ''an example of a celebrity being treated more harshly than an average person.'' Reuters SBC DB2347