Paris Hilton spared jail after deal

Paris Hilton will serve a year of probation under the terms of a plea deal worked out with prosecutors following her arrest on drug charges in Las Vegas.

She has agreed to plead guilty on Monday to two misdemeanours stemming from the August 27 arrest, said Clark County District Attorney David Roger.

She will avoid a more serious felony conviction

She was arrested inside the Wynn resort, after police said a small plastic bag containing 0.8 grams of cocaine fell out of her Chanel purse as she reached for a tub of lip balm in front of a police lieutenant.

A plea agreement obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Hilton will plead guilty to drug possession and obstructing an officer to avoid two consecutive six month-sentences in the Clark County Detention Centre.

Instead, Hilton will serve a year of probation, the newspaper reported. She also must complete a drug abuse programme, pay a 2,000 dollars (£1,300) fine and serve 200 hours of community service.

Mr Roger confirmed the details of the plea deal reported by the Review-Journal. The original felony charge would not have resulted in any time in jail.

Mr Roger said he wanted to obtain a pledge from Hilton to stay out of trouble, and said the plea deal accomplished that goal. "If she is arrested for anything besides a minor traffic violation she will spend a year in jail," he said. "There will be no discussion. The court will have no discretion.