Paris Hilton Says Purse With Cocaine Not Hers

(NewsCore) - Paris Hilton claims that the purse containing cocaine that led to her Friday night arrest in Las Vegas does not belong to her, entertainment website TMZ reported Saturday.

TMZ cited sources who have spoken to the heiress and reality TV star since her arrest.

Hilton was previously arrested in South Africa on July 2 for allegedly possessing or smoking marijuana. A judge dropped the charges when Hilton’s friend admitted the marijuana was hers. Two weeks later she was held by police in France over marijuana in her purse but was released without being charged.

Hilton was the only woman in the car that was stopped in Las Vegas, but she had previously been at a club where other women -- and purses -- were present.

The celebrity socialite was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by police outside the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas on Friday because officers saw what they thought was marijuana smoke coming from the car.

The driver, a friend of Hilton's, was arrested for DUI pertaining to drugs, not alcohol. Through further interaction between Hilton and authorities, it was discovered she was in possession of cocaine, police told FOXNews.com. Police reportedly found the cocaine in her purse.

It was not known how much of the drug was found.

Hilton was detained and released from the Clark County Detention Center at around 2:30am local time Saturday. She was released on her own recognizance, according to TMZ.

Soon after her arrest, Hilton hired top celebrity lawyer David Chesnoff, who immediately secured her release from jail, the website reported.

Sources said the fact that Hilton was freed without bail indicated the amount of cocaine involved in the arrest was small.

A legal expert told Sky News on Saturday that Hilton could face jail time if convicted over the arrest.

"In Nevada the conviction for a schedule II narcotic, which is what cocaine is, is probation to four years [in jail] if it's a relatively small amount,’ said CBS legal correspondent Lisa Bloom. "If she's convicted I expect her to do some time on this," she said.