Paris Hilton’s younger brother pleaded guilty today to causing a disruption aboard an international flight last summer, telling the judge that he checked into a rehabilitation facility afterward and was medicated for the “psychotic breakdown.”
Conrad Hilton, 21, entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Suzanne H. Segal to “simple assault,” an offense that carries a penalty of up to six months in jail, a year of supervised release and a $5,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
He was charged last month with interfering with the crew of a July 31 British Airways flight from London to Los Angeles.
An enraged Hilton was restrained and handcuffed by flight attendants after an outburst in which he called fellow passengers “peasants” and accused the crew of “taking the peasants’ side,” according to an affidavit written by an FBI agent who investigated the disturbance.
During the nearly 11-hour flight, Hilton physically threatened two flight attendants and repeatedly smoked marijuana and cigarettes in an airplane lavatory, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Schwab said.
Hilton “intentionally used a display of force” against the attendants, Schwab told the judge.
In court today, Hilton gave Segal a history of his psychiatric and substance abuse issues.
Hilton said he is currently seeing a psychiatrist/drug counselor weekly; had attended four rehab programs, including a “dual-diagnosis program”; entered “psych wards”; and was taking the medication Latuda “for the psychotic breakdown” until two months ago.
According to the affidavit, Hilton — who was flying business class — told the co-pilot, “If you wanna square up to me bro, then bring it on and I will … fight you.”
Witnesses heard Hilton mumbling to himself, then yelling obscenities and threatening crew members, the affidavit states.
Hilton — grandson of famed hotel billionaire Conrad Hilton Sr. — began punching the bulkhead of the plane close to an attendant’s face, according to the affidavit.
When Hilton fell asleep, “the captain authorized crew members to restrain him to his seat for the descent and he was ultimately handcuffed to his seat,” according to the document.
Hilton’s lawyer, Robert Shapiro, previously said Hilton had suffered a bad reaction to a sleeping pill, which caused his behavior on the flight.
A July 10 sentencing date was set.
