Heidi Fleiss arrested on DUI, marijuana charges

By Ana Ley

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 | 4:55 p.m.

Heidi Fleiss’ love for exotic birds may have spared her from Nye County’s handcuffs in August, but today the former madam was put behind bars when sheriff’s deputies reportedly caught her driving high near her Pahrump home.

Nye County sheriff’s deputies pulled Fleiss over about 3:30 a.m. on State Route 160 after running a record search of her vehicle’s license plate that revealed a suspended registration, Sheriff Tony DeMeo said. The search reportedly also revealed Fleiss did not have a valid license.

Officials found about 4 ounces of marijuana in her car and determined that she was driving high after she failed sobriety tests. Deputies additionally found a “large amount” of cash inside her 2010 Toyota Cruiser, though officials did not disclose how much she was carrying.

She was booked into the Nye County Detention Center on charges that include driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, driving with a suspended registration and driving without insurance. Bail had not been set as of Tuesday afternoon.

Fleiss is nicknamed the Hollywood Madam because she once ran a high-end brothel in Los Angeles.

When Nye County deputies discovered nearly 400 marijuana plants inside Fleiss’ Pahrump home in August, they told news media that they opted not to arrest her because she owns $200,000 worth of exotic birds that the county was not equipped to care for. They also said her cooperation with the department weighed in her favor.

In September, the Nye County District Attorney’s office handed Fleiss felony drug charges in connection with the August discovery, according to the Pahrump Valley Times.

Fleiss is scheduled to appear in Pahrump Justice Court for an arraignment in the grow house case on Wednesday.