Sheriff Baca Paris Hilton Judge Sauer

Sheriff Baca defends decision to release Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton was back in court today, as City Attorneys attempted to return her to her prison cell after Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca had "reassigned" Hilton to serve the remainder of her 45-day sentence under house arrest. Baca had released Paris Hilton after a medical examination determined she was on the brink of having a breakdown, but Judge Michael Sauer upheld his previous sentence, and ordered Paris Hilton back to the Los Angeles County jail where she served the first 5 days of her sentence. Since the ruling has come down, Sheriff Lee Baca has spoken out in defense of his decision to release Paris Hilton from custody, though other questions about his record as Sheriff have surfaced.

Judge Sauer ordered Paris Hilton back to jail after it was determined that Sheriff Baca had no authority and no authorization to reassign Paris Hilton to house arrest. "At no time did I approve the defendant being released from custody to her home on Kings Road,"