(a) In General. Except as otherwise permitted by statute or by these rules, the prosecution must be had in the unit in which the offense was committed~; provided, however, that when a defendant is charged with offenses in other units that could be joined for trial if committed in the same unit, the court may order, upon motion, that prosecution may be held in any of the units where such offenses are charged.(b) Exceptions. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the following proceedings may be had in any unit:
(1) Initial appearance and arraignment under Rules 5 and 10; (2) A preliminary hearing under Rule 32.1(a)(1); (3) A hearing to review bail or conditions of release after arrest upon a warrrant for failure to appear in another unit. (c) Violations of Conditions of Pretrial Release. After arraignment, the prosecution and trial for the offense of violation of conditions of pretrial release shall be had (1) in the unit which issued the pretrial release order; or (2) if the defendant has also been charged with a new offense, other than violation of a condition of pretrial release, in the unit where the offense occurred or a contiguous unit.
