Paris Hilton says she'll do her time, won't appeal sentence

LOS ANGELES — Paris Hilton said Saturday she was "learning and growing" from her time behind bars and will not appeal her 45-day jail sentence for a probation violation in a reckless-driving case.

The hotel heiress was at a maximum-security detention center, where she was believed to have undergone medical and psychiatric evaluations to determine the best jail to keep her in.

"Being in jail is by far the hardest thing I have ever done," Hilton said in a statement released by her lawyer, Richard A. Hutton. "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."

Hilton, in tears and screaming for her mother, was taken to the downtown Twin Towers detention center Friday after a judge ordered her back to jail, ending her brief stint under house arrest at her Hollywood Hills home.

"The Simple Life" star had been escorted from the courtroom shouting, "It's not right!"

Hilton's lawyers sought to keep her out of jail on 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 at jail medical facilities.

Sheriff Lee Baca released Hilton to home detention Thursday, just five days after she turned herself in to a different jail. His decision was criticized by the judge and a host of others.

"Today, I told my attorneys not to appeal the judge's decision," Hilton said. "While I greatly appreciate the sheriff's concern for my health and welfare, I intend to serve my time at L.A. County Jail."

Hilton's statement thanked fans for sending her mail and said she loves and misses her family.

Hilton had not eaten or slept since returning to Los Angeles jail and was being given psychoactive drugs, celebrity Web site TMZ.com reported Saturday, citing law-enforcement sources.

Hilton, 26, "has been crying a lot, praying" and was "extremely withdrawn," TMZ reported.

Material from Reuters was included in this report.