PARIS IN THE POKEY JAIL SCENE LIKE THREE-RING CIRCUS.

Byline: TONY CASTRO

Staff Writer

LYNWOOD -- As mysterious as Cirque du Soleil and frenetic as Barnum & Bailey, the scene outside the county jail where hotel heiress Paris Hilton checked in early Monday was the only circus in town.

Surrendering two days ahead of schedule, Hilton managed to avoid an expected crush of paparazzi, so only celebrity Web site TMZ.com got grainy video of her arrival.

By noon, however, upward of 100 reporters, photographers and videographers were camped outside the Lynwood Regional Correction Facility, where they waited. And waited. And waited.

Word was that Hilton's lawyer, Richard A. Hutton, would make a statement. What more could he add?

That Paris' mug shot showed her beautifully made up, not a hair out of place?

That Paris was inside wearing her jail-issue, nondesigner orange top and pants?

That she had showered Monday morning using personal hygiene items not found in a cheap motel, much less a Hilton?

That she was wearing a plastic wristband imprinted with her name and booking number, 9818783?

That the clothes she wore when her mother and sister accompanied her to jail were now in county storage in a plastic bag?

"(Paris) was cooperative during the (booking) process, which included being fingerprinted, photographed, medically screened," sheriff's Sgt. Diane Hecht said in a statement. "Ms. Hilton will be housed in a cell by herself and will be segregated, in a special housing unit, from the general population during her stay."

Meanwhile, outside the jail, the three-ring show went on.

At one end, the local NBC reporter, after a couple of botched tries, landed her videotaped stand-up, reporting that the star of "The Simple Life" reality television show would have to use a shower and telephone and watch a small television sitting adjacent to her 8-by-12-foot cell.

In the middle ring, after touching up his deep tan with a bronzer from a spray bottle, a network reporter flawlessly explained how the socialite had fallen this far -- being pulled over in February for driving with a suspended license while on probation for a previous drunk-driving arrest.

And on the other end of the big top, a CNN correspondent who kept fluffing her auburn hair every few seconds when not on the air, did her stand-up, then spoke knowledgeably about Paris to the anchorwoman.

"Paris was at the MTV Movie Awards Sunday night and from there ..."

All the while, the bouquet of microphones at the makeshift podium in front of the 13-year-old women's jail were silent.

Getting in easy

As the circus unfolded, relatives and friends of women doing time at the jail trickled in and out. One of those visitors asked what the commotion was about and was told it was for Paris Hilton, who had sneaked into jail.

"Well, getting in is easy," the visitor said. "It's jail. Let's see her get out."

The only fan who did show up identified himself as Eric Gregory Hilton, 44, a carpenter from Torrance, who claimed to be a distant cousin.

"We're related through our grandfathers," said Hilton, who made sure he introduced himself holding up the California driver's license bearing his name. "I've never talked to Paris, but I have written her a couple of letters."

Only a few steps outside the ring marking the news-media area, a young man wearing a tie, white shirt and dress slacks snapped a series of photos of the CNN beauty, using a digital Nikon camera with a telephoto lens.

A moment later he called over another similarly attired young man and showed him the shots he'd taken. As the pair ogled the photos, a reporter walked over and asked to interview them.

"No, we can't," the photographer said. "We're Lynwood city employees. We're not even supposed to be here."

"Yeah," his friend added. "This is even a city camera we're using that we shouldn't be."

Nearby, the wait went on, taking its toll.

Cameramen standing in the hot sun reapplied sun screen. Others ate fast food purchased from a vendor.

A group of British reporters debated whether Prince Harry should be deployed to Iraq. A few wondered what Paris was having for lunch (a turkey sandwich, according to one sheriff's deputy).

The CNN correspondent disappeared into an air-conditioned van, but the ever-vigilant local ABC reporter slipped off her low-heeled shoes to reveal badly swollen feet.

Hilton would probably laugh. After all, she's used to partying until 5 a.m. in size-11, 3 1/2-inch stilettos.

tony.castro(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Paris Hilton's booking mug shot is inset in a photo showing a sign hanging on a fence across from the Lynwood Regional Correctional Facility where she is serving her term.

Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

(3) Paris Hilton's attorney, Richard A. Hutton, speaks to the news media outside the Lynwood jail.

Steven Georges/Staff Photographer