Darren Sharper to remain in jail without bail on sex assault charges

An L.A. County Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered former NFL player Darren Sharper to remain in jail without bail because of a new indictment against him in Arizona on two sex assault cases.

Judge Renee Korn also declined efforts by Sharper’s attorneys, Blair Berk and Larry Levine, to have Sharper released from L.A. County custody on house arrest with GPS monitoring.

Sharper, 38, has been charged by Los Angeles County prosecutors with seven rape and drug counts in connection with two alleged attacks in Hollywood. After first being released, he was taken into custody again Feb. 27 after New Orleans police issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with two more alleged rapes.

PHOTOS: Former NFL player Darren Sharper faces sex assault charges

It was announced Wednesday that an Arizona grand jury had indicted him on five sexual assault and drug-related counts. Sharper, 38, was indicted on two counts of sexual assault and three of administering dangerous drugs in connection with attacks that allegedly occurred in Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 20, 2013.

On Thursday, Los Angeles prosecutors said New Orleans officials did not plan to file charges in their case because they did not want the time to run out to try him in Louisiana.

Korn said she would set bail for Sharper if an Arizona court set bail for him on charges there. With a warrant out for his arrest in Arizona, it would be standard procedure to keep him in custody, she said.

The judge did, however, set a hearing for March 24 to allow a discussion of Sharper’s status if the Arizona courts allow bail to be set.

L.A. County prosecutors said they planned to try Sharper on multiple counts of drugging and rape before any trial proceedings begin in Arizona.

Korn had said that week that it was “grossly unfair” to hold Sharper without bail on the New Orleans matter.

California law clearly requires either indictment, criminal charges or a governor’s request for extradition.

New Orleans police issued an arrest warrant for Sharper and his friend — identified as Erik Nunez, 26 — after two women alleged that the men had sex with them without their consent while they “were under the influence of an unknown substance” on the night of Sept. 23.

In all, Sharper is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting at least eight women in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Tempe, Ariz. A ninth woman has accused him of sexual battery in Florida.

Twitter: @lacrimes| Google+

richard.winton@latimes.com