USC's Osa Masina charged with first-degree rape, forcible sodomy

Suspended USC linebacker Osa Masina has been charged with one count of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree forcible sodomy in Salt Lake County, Utah, according to charging documents obtained by ESPN.

Masina surrendered to Salt Lake County jail shortly after the charges were filed Thursday morning, according to his attorney, Greg Skordas. Masina posted bond just before 7 p.m. local time, according to a spokeswoman for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. Bail was set at $250,000.

"They're what we call here in Utah first-degree felonies, so they carry a term of potential imprisonment of five years to life," said Skordas, who had not yet seen the charging documents when contacted by ESPN. "Obviously, without looking at the police reports or the supporting documents I can't say much more than that."

The alleged victim told investigators from the Cottonwood Heights (Utah) Police Department that after consuming marijuana and alcohol at a house party, she passed out and awoke to Masina having sex with her July 26, according to the charging documents filed in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City on Thursday.

The document says the woman passed out as this was happening, but again awoke to Masina forcing a sexual act. When she awoke a second time, she said she was in pain and covered in a blanket, wearing only her bra. After calling a friend and his father for help, "the next thing she could remember was waking up later in the morning in the front yard of a neighbor," according to the document.

An examination of the woman was conducted by a sexual assault nurse examiner.

"We're not going to, at this point, discuss anything from an evidentiary perspective, other than to say what is in the probable cause statement," Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told ESPN.

In an interview with police, Masina admitted to having sex with the woman on the night in question, according to the document.

Masina is also under investigation for an earlier sexual assault of the same woman in Los Angeles. The incident allegedly took place at the apartment of USC teammate Don Hill, who is also under investigation for sexual assault.

The charging document says the "evidence suggests that the Utah incident was neither a one-time event nor a spontaneous occurrence, and therefore raises concerns about the safety of others with whom the defendant may have contact."

No charges have been filed as a result of the investigation in Los Angeles, which remains ongoing.

Masina was suspended from USC and banned from campus on Friday and given until 6 p.m. Monday to vacate his campus residence, Skordas said. Masina returned to his family home in Salt Lake City on Sunday.

USC coach Clay Helton announced Tuesday that Masina and Hill will no longer take part in football-related activities.

"Under the university's further guidance, it has been decided that they have been suspended from participation with our football team," Helton said.

Asked about Masina after Thursday's practice, Helton mostly deferred questions to USC public relations.

"When you get into this type of situation, you take the head coach out of it, and it's a university matter," he said.

Neither player was allowed to play in the Trojans' first two games of the season, but they continued to practice with the team and attend meetings. It is unclear whether Hill will be allowed to continue to attend class.

"Based on additional information obtained by the university, Osa Masina and Don Hill have been suspended from participation with USC Athletics and the football team," USC said in a statement Tuesday. "To protect the rights of the students and comply with federal privacy laws no other details will be provided."

The university did not immediately provide additional comment Thursday, when contacted by ESPN.

Masina was served with a search warrant on Aug. 25 to collect DNA samples and his cellphone, which he allegedly used to film himself having sex with the woman and later send the video to the woman's ex-boyfriend through Snapchat, according to an affidavit.

Four days after the search warrant was executed, Helton announced Masina would not travel with the team to Texas to play Alabama, citing a "violation of team rules."

Hill initially made the trip, but he returned home after details of his alleged involvement became public.