Corrections officer in court after allegedly trying to aid escape

Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 3:40 p.m.

NLV corrections officer charged in attempted prison escape (10-20-09)

A corrections officer accused of trying to help an inmate escape from the North Las Vegas Detention Center appeared in court today for a felony arraignment.

Hollis Salahuddin, 35, who worked at the city’s jail for three years and eight months, is charged with one felony count of aiding a prisoner to escape and one felony count of forgery by altering, deleting or obliterating computerized data. She was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center in October and has since posted bail.

She appeared in court today in front of Justice of the Peace Chris Lee to ask for the public defender’s office to represent her. Lee told Salahuddin she makes too much money to qualify for the service of a public defender.

Salahuddin argued that she is supporting three children, one of whom is in college, and can’t afford to hire a lawyer. Lee eventually decided to let the public defender’s office represent her.

In October, Salahuddin was arrested after an investigation that was started when unauthorized changes were found to a prisoner's record, police said. A criminal complaint alleges that Salahuddin forged information on a prisoner's computer record in an attempt to aid in his escape.

There is no evidence that any prisoners escaped as a result of Salahuddin's actions, police said. She has been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

Lee set the preliminary hearing for 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 28.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By sdsolosoul

11/16/09 at 4:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

She should get a raise. She is able to brake the law, continue in city payroll, and get taxpayers to pay for her defense. I'm astonished.
By wolf85023

11/16/09 at 4:22 p.m.

Suggest removal

She is getting paid administrtive leave.(Why)I hope the tax payers get paid back if she did this.
By Judy

11/16/09 at 5:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

She is 35 and has a child in college?
And why, after only 3 years and 8 months of service is she on paid administrative leave? Does that end at the preliminary hearing if she is held?