Bulger's girlfriend to remain held without bail

BOSTON – A federal judge on Friday ordered the longtime girlfriend of former Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger to remain in custody without bail while she awaits trial on allegations that she helped him evade capture for more than 16 years.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Boal's order came two days after an attorney for Catherine Greig said she would voluntarily remain in custody while he gathers more information to support his request that she be granted bail and placed under electronic monitoring.

Bulger and Greig were arrested last month in Santa Monica, Calif. Bulger is charged with participating in 19 murders. Greig is charged with harboring and concealing a fugitive.

Bulger has pleaded not guilty. Greig has sought to be released on bail in the custody of her twin sister.

The judge ordered that Greig be detained separate from convicts or those appealing their sentences. The suspect should also be given reasonable opportunity for private consultations with her attorney, according to the court order.

"This order is without prejudice to the defendant filing a motion to consider the issue of pretrial detention," Boal said in her order of voluntary detention.

Greig's bail hearing on Wednesday sparked passionate arguments from prosecutors, her attorneys and victims of Bulger's alleged crimes.

Prosecutors portrayed Greig as an eager partner to Bulger, willingly going on the run with him and actively helping him elude authorities for more than 16 years. They also argued that Greig could easily flee again if she is released on bail.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington questioned an FBI agent who acknowledged that members of a family who befriended the couple in Grand Isle, La., during their first two years as fugitives said Bulger was harsh and controlling, and treated Greig like a servant.

Reddington argued that when Greig left Boston with Bulger in 1995, he had only been charged with extortion in a racketeering indictment. The murder allegations were included in a separate racketeering indictment four years later.

Bulger's former top lieutenant, Kevin Weeks, called as a witness by Greig's lawyer, said Greig was not involved in Bulger's criminal enterprises, which allegedly included drugs, loan-sharking and extortion.

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Associated Press writer Rodrique Ngowi can be reached at: http://twitter.com/ngowi