Sheriff is unfazed, denies favoritism

The sheriff who sprang Paris Hilton is no stranger to Hollywood. He has attended the Academy Awards and Golden Globes shows. He’s golfed with actor Michael Douglas, given a concealed weapons permit to Ben Affleck, hired Lou Ferrigno as a reserve deputy, taken campaign contributions from Sylvester Stallone.

Serving as sheriff in Hollywood’s home county makes the spotlight difficult to avoid. But Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca’s involvement in Hilton’s early release has some in his own department wondering whether he allows celebrity to interfere with justice.

“After this latest incident, outward appearances seem to be that the sheriff does lean toward favoritism of the rich and famous,” said Steve Remige, president of the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the union that represents the department’s nearly 9,000 sworn deputies.

Baca, who manages the nation’s largest jail system and upward of 20,000 inmates, said it was unusual for him to decide to release an inmate early. But he said concern about Hilton’s deteriorating health -- not her status as “The Simple Life” television star and paparazzi magnet -- was the deciding factor.

The 65-year-old Baca, sheriff since 1998, said dealing with celebrities was part of the job. But he said he provides them no more attention than those without money or influence.

“My job is to help people who have public safety problems. God only knows that celebrities occasionally have those problems,” Baca said.

The sheriff said he was disappointed by the suggestion that he allowed Hilton’s celebrity status to influence him, suggesting that Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo sought to have the actress returned to jail because he wanted publicity. He also indicated that Hilton was punished excessively because of her celebrity.

“Her special treatment was more punishment,” he said.

And he said Remige, the union president, “sees a chance to make himself seem important, and as a result he undermines not only himself but this woman’s true condition.”

This is not the first time that Baca’s department has faced criticism for its handling of a high-profile case. Last year, a deputy who arrested actor Mel Gibson for drunk driving in Malibu was told to delete from the arrest report references to anti-Semitic comments the actor made after he was detained. Baca said he was not involved in the decision to edit that report.

In addition to Douglas, the sheriff has golfed with Dr. Gary Alter, a sex-change specialist featured on the television show “Dr. 90210.” Baca has issued concealed weapon permits to actors Stallone and Affleck, among others. With his approval, the department is in discussions to produce five reality television shows.

Last year, Baca employed Ferrigno as a volunteer reserve.

“I don’t cohort with celebrities. I don’t publicly hang out in places where celebrities are,” Baca said. “The only celebrity I’ve spent any great time with is [Michael Douglas] and you don’t do anything on a golf course except concentrate on hitting a ball,” Baca said.

Still, as a sheriff or police chief, “you have to be concerned about appearances,” said Anthony Ribera, director of the International Institute of Criminal Justice Leadership at the University of San Francisco and chief of the San Francisco Police Department from 1992 to 1996.

“We’re dealing with perceptions. Sheriff Baca has a right to socialize with whoever he wants, as long as they’re not convicted felons,” Ribera said. “On the other hand, you do create a perception out there, rubbing shoulders with celebrities and the bright lights. If you are persistently associating with any group, it creates the impression they are your allies.”

Arthur Kassell, whose late wife, Tichi, was publisher of the Hollywood Reporter, said he considers Baca a close friend. He said the sheriff would have made the same decision about Hilton if she were penniless and unknown.

“He takes the side of the downtrodden more than any sheriff this county has ever seen,” Kassell said. “If somebody came to him with a problem, he would help the person, whether they were rich or poor.”

Baca said he was not concerned about criticism he has faced across the country after Hilton’s brief release. Nor is he worried about political fallout. The day Hilton was released, someone registered the website address www.recallbaca.com.

“This is not anything that bothers me,” Baca said.

At a news conference, Baca reacted angrily to the suggestion that Hilton’s celebrity had influenced him.

“I don’t know Paris Hilton. I didn’t know what Paris Hilton looked like until I saw her picture in the newspaper. Some of us have jobs that don’t allow us to follow the latest sitcom,” he said.

stuart.pfeifer@latimes.com