Merced judge issues -- then rescinds -- arrest warrant for Nancy Salas

A Merced County judge issued -- then rescinded -- an arrest warrant Tuesday for Nancy Salas, the Glendale woman who faked her disappearance in May and allegedly lied to police about being kidnapped — after she failed to show up for a scheduled court appearance, officials said.

Salas, 22, did not appear for an arraignment hearing Tuesday morning in Merced County Superior Court on a misdemeanor charge of filing a false police report with Merced police, court officials said.

Her attorney attributed the missed appearance to a scheduling mix-up and said Salas was not required to attend because the alleged offense is a misdemeanor. After the mistake was explained, the judge retracted the warrant and set a hearing for Thursday morning.

Salas' disappearance in May was determined to be suspicious after she didn't return from a jog in Chevy Chase Canyon and police discovered her cellphone and car keys at home. Soon after, police launched a massive search for the 22-year-old former UCLA student.

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-- Veronica Rocha in the Glendale News-Press