Paris Keeps Out of Sight, Not Mind

Paris Hilton is not quite ready for her close-up—much to the chagrin of dozens of reporters, paparazzi and assorted looky-loos waiting for a photo op.

It's been more than 12 hours since Los Angeles' most famous ex-inmate was sprung from her 12-by-8-foot cell at the Century Regional Detention Facility and retreated to the friendlier, more luxurious confines of her family's gated compound in the exclusive Holmby Hills. Hilton has bunkered down with friends and family in the mansion, owned by her grandfather, and she has yet to emerge.

"There's not going to be a press conference today," Los Angeles Police Sgt. B. Anthony Roberts told onlookers Tuesday morning, after entering the estate and conferring with the Hiltons.

The family also received a visit from Paris' publicist, Elliot Mintz. As of press time, Mintz had yet to release a statement on the 26-year-old hotel heiress' behalf, leading to speculation that Hilton might remain mum until Wednesday night's sit-down with CNN's Larry King. So far, the only public peep she has made was a "hi" to well-wishers outside the Lynwood jail as she exited at 12:15 a.m.

Several cars and delivery trucks also entered the complex. A black Cadillac Escalade came by full of balloons and a cake iced in pink with "Welcome Home." A van from DreamCatchers also was spotted, and the hair extensions company, which is owned by Hilton, has confirmed she was getting a new coiffure.

While Hilton was adding extensions, across the city in downtown Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca faced a hairy situation of his own in front of the County Board of Supervisors. The testy officials, among Baca's biggest critics, demanded that the sheriff justify his attempt to release Hilton to house arrest after she had served only three full days. Hilton, whom the sheriff claimed was too sick to remain locked up, was eventually ordered back to jail, and Baca has been under fire since.

During the often contentious 30-minute back-and-forth, Baca said Hilton couldn't recall the names or dosages of her medications for an unspecified ailment and her condition rapidly deteriorated.

"We did not know the appropriate medication that was necessary for her particular medical problem," Baca said.

"Ultimately, she was at a place where we couldn't fix whatever that medical problem was with the resources we had."

The sheriff again suggested that Hilton was suffering from serious psychological problems but refused to directly say whether the heiress was suicidal.

"I'll say this—I think we all in this room know something about suicide," Baca said

"As the sheriff of this county, I'm not going to let any inmate die in our jails. If I know something that can be done that solves the medical problem...what's worth more? Serving time in the county jail for driving on a suspended driver's license or a person losing their life?" (Hilton told E! News' Ryan Seacrest last week that she "was going crazy" during her first few days in lockup.)

Before addressing the supervisors, Baca was asked if he had a message for Hilton. "Paris, do a better job in your life," he said. "Redirect your energy...Stay out of trouble and follow the law."

Aside from a recall campaign at home, Baca is being lambasted as far away as Texas. By a nine-year-old girl. Destiny Irvin staged a one-person protest outside her Garland, Texas, home, ostensibly criticizing Baca for not making Hilton serve the entire 45-day sentence she was given for violating her probation for alcohol-related reckless driving. Hilton didn't escape Irvin's ire, either, with the child telling local reporters that the heiress was a bad role model and that because she did the crime, she should do the time.

Lone Star State moppets aren't the only ones trying to wring some free publicity out of Hilton's exodus.

Taco Bell dispatched a chalupa-filled truck to Chez Hilton after reports surfaced that the Simple Lifer was craving some of the chain's cuisine. Company president Greg Creed also promised to give away free food at a Taco Bell of Hilton's choosing, should she agree to show up for a couple of hours.

Keeping up the fast-food theme, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked Hilton earlier this month to spearhead its Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign, designed to shed light on the plight of bucket-bound chickens.

"Unlike inmates at the jail in L.A., these animals get no reprieve or medical treatment," said PETA spokesman Dan Mathews.

But as with other postjail opportunities on the table, the heiress has yet to acknowledge those offers.

The Learning Annex, the adult educators specializing in wealth-building seminars, has offered Hilton a $1 million payday to teach a traveling hourlong class titled "How to Build Your Brand."

"I think Paris Hilton is a brilliant entrepreneur who has built an incredible brand," the company's president and founder, Bill Zanker, said. "Professor Paris Hilton, I like that."

The professor will remain on probation through March 2009. According to prosecutors, that term may be reduced if she agrees to complete a community-service regimen, which may include the filming of a PSA.

PETA spots, presumably, not included.