Sharper in custody on New Orleans arrest warrant

(SportsNetwork.com) - Former NFL safety Darren Sharper is in custody in Los Angeles after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the alleged rapes of two women in New Orleans last September.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune and NBC News cited sources as saying Sharper turned himself in to Los Angeles police late Thursday night.

Sharper was charged in Los Angeles two weeks ago with drugging and raping two women. He was free on bond in the Los Angeles case.

The New Orleans warrant said Sharper and an acquaintance, 26-year-old Erik Nunez, each face two counts of aggravated rape.

Investigators in New Orleans last week learned that two women were allegedly sexually assaulted by Sharper in the same apartment the night of Sept. 23. New information uncovered also indicates that Nunez also allegedly raped both women that night at the same location.

Louisiana law states that a person convicted of committing aggravated rape shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

The Los Angeles District Attorney charged Sharper with two counts of rape by use of drugs, four counts of furnishing a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance, all felonies. The complaint alleges the controlled substances were zolpidem and morphine.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles wanted his bail increased because Sharper, a Miami, Fla. resident, is suspected of raping women in Arizona and Nevada, in addition to Louisiana.

Sharper was a five-time Pro Bowl selection during his career and won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints in 2009 before his retirement following the 2010 season. He played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans, and was selected to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

The 38-year-old began working with the NFL Network in 2012. Sharper was suspended indefinitely by the NFL Network following his arrest.