Sheriff Lee Baca on Paris Hilton

The sheriff who was criticized for briefly allowing Paris Hilton to leave jail for house arrest explained his actions after Hilton was released from jail on Tuesday. Sheriff Lee Baca suggested that he made the controversial move because he feared for Hilton’s life. While he did not explicitly say Hilton had been in danger of harming herself, Baca said:

“I think we all in this room know something about suicide. 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?” A spokesperson for Hilton would not comment on Baca’s remarks