Robert Durst to be moved to new jail

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NEW ORLEANS – Accused murderer Robert Durst will soon have a new jail cell to call home.

After state gun and drug charges stemming from his March arrest in New Orleans were dropped, Durst is being moved to a federal jail to face a felon in possession of a gun charge there.

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The jail where Durst will be housed has not been disclosed, but a hearing was held Thursday with a federal judge, Durst's attorneys and U.S. Marshals.

The Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System showed Robert Durst has been transferred from the Orleans Parish Jail but it was not immediately clear Friday evening if he was set in federal custody.

Durst's attorneys said Thursday they were worried about how Durst will be transported from one jail to the next and what kind of care he'll get.

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Durst is not well, according to Dick DeGuerin, one of Durst's attorneys.

Court records show the Marshals are prepared to house Durst.

"The Marshal's Service has made all necessary arrangements and is fully prepared to place defendant in custody pursuant to the federal detainer at an appropriate federal contracted facility within the Eastern District," a federal court minute order reads.

KPRC 2 legal analyst Brian Wice says there is a different between federal jails and state jails.

"Big difference. Federal jails are usually a little nicer," Wice said.

The state dropped charges in favor of the feds perusing a similar charge stemming from the night he was arrested when police say they found a gun in his hotel room.

In general, prosecutors don't like to have two cases running at the same time.

They are sometimes concerns testifying in one case might say one thing and then say something different in the other. Defense attorneys would seize on even a slight difference in testimony, most legal experts believe.

Generally, the feds and the state talk about who is going to take the case to trial and that's what happened here.

If you have a tip for investigative reporter Jace Larson, email or text him at jlarson@kprc.com or 832-493-3951. 

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Dec. 18, 2005:Durst was arrested because he returned to Galveston in violation of the terms of his supervised release, a prison spokesman said. Ultimately sentenced to 60 days for the parole violation, but only had to serve 26 days.