Bail for Osa Chad Masina, a former Brighton High School and University of Southern California football player accused of rape, has been reduced from $250,000 to $100,000, as he awaits trial in March.
Masina, 19, faces first-degree felony charges of rape and forcible sodomy, stemming from allegations of a July sexual assault at a Cottonwood Heights house party. At a hearing Friday morning in 3rd District Court, Judge Keith Kelly set a trial date for the case, and reduced Masina's bail while adding conditions for his continued release.
"This in no way suggests that I believe the crime is not serious," Kelly said of the bail reduction. "I've heard the testimony of the victim at the preliminary hearing. This is a very serious crime."
At that hearing earlier in December, a 19-year-old woman testified that Masina raped her after she passed out on a couch following a July 24 party, during which she had consumed marijuana and heavy amounts of alcohol.
The woman also said Masina and another man had sexually assaulted her previously during a trip to Los Angeles. Police in California have been investigating Masina, but no criminal charges have been filed there.
Still, Kelly said the added conditions of the bail reduction — including daily check-ins with caseworkers, ongoing counseling, and random urine analyses leading up to the trial — warranted the decision.
"I believe we're safer in the community having … an added level of supervision," the judge said.
Masina posted bail hours after his arrest in September and has been out of jail since then. A report filed with the court deemed Masina "a low to moderate risk to the victim and the community and a low to moderate risk for failing to appear" in court, defense attorney Greg Skordas said. Skordas also argued that the bail should be reduced to lessen a "tremendous" monthly financial hardship on Masina's family, who had financed the bond.
The reduction was opposed by prosecutors and an attorney for the victim in the case.
Masina was a standout athlete at Brighton High School, earning All-Tribune MVP honors in 2013. He was suspended from the University of Southern California's football team in September, when details of a police investigation became public.
His trial is currently set for four days beginning March 28.
afalk@sltrib.com
Twitter: @aaronfalk
Southern California's Osa Masina, left, works out during the NCAA college football team's practice Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, in Los Angeles. Masina is being investigated on suspicion of sexual assault in Utah. Police documents released Tuesday show authorities are looking into allegations against linebacker Masina stemming from a July 30 incident. (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News via AP)
FILE - In this Aug. 30, 2016 file photo, Southern California's Osa Masina works out during NCAA college football practice in Los Angeles. He is one of two USC football players under investigation for sexual assault. The team has sent linebacker Don Hill home from Dallas, where the No. 20 Trojans are set to open the season Saturday, Sept. 3, against No. 1 Alabama. The team on Friday would say only that Hill had violated team rules. Masina did not make the trip with the team. (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News via AP, File)
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Former Brighton High football star Osa Masina makes his first appearance in court, at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 30, 2016. Masina has been charged with three first-degree felony counts stemming from a July sexual assault in Cottonwood Heights.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Former Brighton High football star Osa Masina makes his first appearance in court, at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 30, 2016. Masina has been charged with three first-degree felony counts stemming from a July sexual assault in Cottonwood Heights.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Former Brighton High football star Osa Masina makes his first appearance in court, in front of Judge Paul B. Parker, at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 30, 2016. Masina has been charged with three first-degree felony counts stemming from a July sexual assault in Cottonwood Heights.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Former Brighton High football star Osa Masina makes his first appearance in court, at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 30, 2016. Masina has been charged with three first-degree felony counts stemming from a July sexual assault in Cottonwood Heights.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Former Brighton High football star Osa Masina makes his first appearance in court, in front of Judge Paul B. Parker, at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 30, 2016. Masina has been charged with three first-degree felony counts stemming from a July sexual assault in Cottonwood Heights.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Former Brighton High football star Osa Masina makes his first appearance in court, at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 30, 2016. Masina has been charged with three first-degree felony counts stemming from a July sexual assault in Cottonwood Heights.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Attorney Gregory G. Skordas talks to reporters after former Brighton High football star Osa Masina made his first appearance in court, at the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Friday, September 30, 2016. Masina has been charged with three first-degree felony counts stemming from a July sexual assault in Cottonwood Heights.