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SALT LAKE CITY — A preliminary hearing was set on Friday for a former Brighton High School and University of Southern California football star accused of raping a woman in Cottonwood Heights.
Prosecutors will present their evidence against suspended USC linebacker Osa Chad Masina, 19, on Nov. 29. A judge will then determine whether there is enough evidence to order him to stand trial on charges of forcible rape and two counts of forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies.
Bail was not addressed at Friday's hearing as originally expected. Last month, Masina's family posted his $250,000 bail to secure his release from jail.
Attorney Greg Skordas said Friday he expects the case to go to trial, but he's also negotiating with prosecutors to lower his client's bail.
"He's here, he's got nowhere to go," Skordas said, though he acknowledged prosecutors aren't ready to agree to a bail reduction. Masina has also been suspended from the university, though he's appealing that decision, Skordas said.
In July, Masina and the alleged victim, a 19-year-old friend who he has known since high school, were at the same party in Cottonwood Heights. Both consumed alcohol and drugs at the party, and she left at one point with Masina and two other men to get something to eat, according to charging documents.
The woman told police she felt "not all there" and fell asleep in the car while the others got food. After driving around, they returned to the party.
The woman said she fell asleep and awoke "to find Masina on top of her," according to the charges.
Masina is also under investigation on separate allegations that he sexually assaulted the same woman while she was visiting him in Los Angeles.
The woman told police she and Masina both ingested alcohol and smoked marijuana, and she said Masina gave her the drug Xanax. She said she was assaulted by Masina and a fellow football player and was told by an ex-boyfriend that Masina sent him a video of the assault through a social media app, a search warrant affidavit states.
Skordas has previously said he doesn't believe criminal charges will be filed in the California investigation.
Masina has been placed on "interim suspension" from USC. He was ordered to vacate his on-campus housing and may not return to campus without permission and an escort.
Contributing: Associated Press
