Tuesday May 8, 10:18 PM

Paris begs fans to petition Governor Arnie

By Splash Jail-bound Paris Hilton is begging her fans to petition Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to keep her out of jail.

The celebrity socialite has already launched her expensive legal team to launch official appeals against her 45-day sentence, insisting: "I was treated unfair."

Now she is so desperate to stay out of jail she is begging friends and fans to start a massive petition to get California's governor to act.

She is writing to everyone she knows in her huge social network and asking them to sign the petition which asks for a pardon because Paris provides "beauty and excitement" to "most of our mundane lives."

It adds: "We, the American public who support Paris, are shocked, dismayed and appalled by how Paris has been the person to be used as an example that Drunk Driving is wrong."

One insider said: "This shows just how terrified Paris is of having to go to jail. I mean asking the Governor for a pardon - that's desperate!"

As well as direct contact, Paris has used her MySpace page to get as many people as possible to sign the petition.

She wrote: "My friend Joshua started this petition, please help and sihn [sic] it. i LOVE YOU ALL!"

She was referring to a petition written by Joshua Capone, in which he writes: "Paris Whitney Hilton is a 26-year-old American celebrity and socialite.

"She is an heiress to a share of the Hilton Hotel fortune, as well as to the real estate fortune of her father Richard Hilton.

"She provides hope for young people all over the U.S. and the world.

"We, the American public who support Paris, are shocked, dismayed and appalled by how Paris has been the person to be used as an example that Drunk Driving is wrong," the letter says. "Please consider granting a pardon to Paris Hilton for her mistake, or at the very least to advocate for a pardon to be given to Ms. Hilton."

Earlier, right after Capone posted his open letter to the governor, Hilton gushed, "Thank you Joshua. I just want to thank Joshua so much for his kind words of love and support. God Bless, Love Paris."

Hilton was sentenced to serve 45 days in Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California, for driving with a suspended license after a drink driving arrest. She must surrender for jail on June 5.

Meanwhile, Paris' publicist Elliot Mintz has said he will do anything to win her back as a client.

He was fired this week after Paris was sentenced - largely because the socialite blames him for her legal woes, saying Mintz told her license was no longer suspended and she was able to drive.

"I absolutely love Paris," Mintz said. "She's a sweetheart and we are pals beyond a professional relationship. This is a time of enormous difficulty for her, and anything I can do for her I will."

Mintz said that the two plan to meet for an intimate dinner so they can discuss their working relationship.

"In this age of Blackberrys and cellphones, it's a good idea for us to sit down and look each other in the eye over dinner," Mintz said.

"I gave her a call and she was warm and personal, and we're going to sit and have a conversation about her future."