The Nightmare is OVER!



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 tucked into a Beverly Hills canyon. 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."

E! News