A physicist in New Mexico who is accused of trying to help Venezuela develop a nuclear weapon has been released to a halfway house.

Pedro Leonardo Mascheroni appeared Monday before a federal magistrate in Albuquerque. He and his wife were arrested Friday.

A defense attorney argued Mascheroni has posed to no threat to national security or a danger to the community in the 11 months since a search warrant was served at his Los Alamos home.

The judge also agreed to place Mascheroni's wife, Marjorie, on house arrest.

The couple are accused of offering to help develop a nuclear weapon for Venezuela while dealing with an FBI undercover agent posing as a Venezuelan agent.

The U.S. government is not alleging Venezuela or anyone working for it sought U.S. secrets.