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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — California authorities have been ordered to turn former NFL All-Pro safety Darren Sharper over to U.S. Marshals in New Orleans, where he faces state and federal charges that he drugged women so he could sexually assault them.
Sharper is jailed in California on charges that he drugged and raped two women there. He also faces charges in Arizona and is under investigation in other states. State and federal charges in Louisiana were filed in December.
Sharper has denied the allegations.
Monday's federal court order to the sheriff of Los Angeles County says Sharper must be surrendered to federal marshals in New Orleans by 2 p.m. Feb. 23.
Sharper played on Super Bowl teams in Green Bay and New Orleans. He retired in 2011.
An order signed by U. S. Magistrate Judge Michael North calls for Sharper to be held in federal custody "until resolution of federal charges pending against him," then returned to Los Angeles authorities.
It was unclear when Sharper would be transferred to New Orleans.
"Mr. Sharper will remain in Los Angeles until our case is resolved," Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, said in an email. However, when asked to elaborate, she said later that the office was not fighting the federal order.
Sharper's New Orleans lawyer, Nandi Campbell, declined comment. His Los Angeles lawyer, Leonard Levine, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
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