LOS ANGELES -- An attorney for the man who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy said yesterday his client was transferred from a prison that houses high-risk offenders to a new facility where his life could be in danger.

Attorney William F. Pepper said Sirhan Sirhan opposed the move from the state prison in Corcoran, which houses high-risk prisoners such as Charles Manson, to Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga.

"Our main concern is for his safety," said Laurie Dusek, an associate of Mr. Pepper. "We are not sure that Pleasant Valley has the ability to protect him. He is a target."

Mr. Pepper said he has new evidence and wants to reopen Mr. Sirhan's case.

Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said Mr. Sirhan had requested the transfer and wants to stay in Pleasant Valley.

"After discussing his hesitation with prison officials at Pleasant Valley, Sirhan Sirhan indicated he wanted to stay at the new facility after all," Mr. Hidalgo said. "He can indicate if he feels unsafe at any point and the department will respond appropriately."

Mr. Sirhan is serving a life sentence for the 1968 killing of Mr. Kennedy. He had been housed for years in the protective unit at Corcoran, one of the most isolated units in the state prison system.

Mr. Pepper said neither he nor Mr. Sirhan had requested the move and neither had received notice until Mr. Sirhan was actually moved Thursday.

Mr. Hidalgo countered in a written statement that the move followed numerous requests by Mr. Sirhan to be transferred from Corcoran.

"His movements there have been extremely controlled and his exposure to others extremely limited," Mr. Hidalgo said.

Mr. Hidalgo said Mr. Sirhan's lawyers were notified of the move, but both Mr. Pepper and Ms. Dusek said in telephone interviews they were not told of the transfer.

Ms. Dusek said she had contacted prison officials, checking on a report from Mr. Sirhan's brother that he might be moved. Authorities denied any knowledge of such a change, she said.

Mr. Pepper said he wrote to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger protesting the move. The governor's office said it had not received any communication on the matter.

Washington correspondent Daniel Malloy writes the "Pittsburgh On The Potomac" blog exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.