Paris Hilton Could Face Charges of Petty Theft

Hotel heiress and television personality Paris Hilton could face petty theft charges in connection with the alleged theft of a DVD from a West Hollywood newsstand, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a Dec. 15 incident in which Hilton visited the Swing News newsstand in the 8200 block of Sunset Boulevard and reportedly spotted a DVD that featured her and a former boyfriend having sex. Hilton, who has said she never wanted the video to become public, allegedly became enraged and grabbed the DVD, authorities said.

“According to the manager, she grabbed the DVD and told him she wasn’t paying,” said Sheriff’s Det. Vivian May. “When the manager pointed out that the stand also carried a framed poster featuring the cover of the DVD, Ms. Hilton shouted to two men parked in a vehicle in front of the business. The men got out of the vehicle and one walked over to the poster and pulled it from the frame.”

Portions of the exchange were captured on a surveillance videotape. Images from those tapes recently were posted on the website for the television show “Celebrity Justice.”

The Sheriff’s Department said it referred the case to prosecutors Thursday, but a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said officials have yet to be presented evidence in the matter.

Hilton, 23, is a great-granddaughter of Hilton hotels founder Conrad Hilton. She costars with Nicole Richie, daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, in the Fox TV series “The Simple Life.”

Hilton said she has been embarrassed and humiliated by the public release of the sex video, which surfaced in 2003.