USC Linebacker Osa Masina Charged With First-Degree Rape

USC linebacker Osa Masina has officially been charged with first degree rape and forcible sodomy, ESPN reports.

Sexual assault is becoming a serious problem across college football programs, and it’s becoming more and more prevalent in recent weeks. Now, another college football player has been charged with rape.

According to Kyle Boagura from ESPN, USC linebacker Osa Masina, who has been suspended, was formally charged with one count of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree forcible sodomy, with all places taking charge in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“They’re what we call here in Utah first-degree felonies, so they carry a term of potential imprisonment of five years to life,” Masina’s attorney Greg Skordas said. “Obviously, without looking at the police reports or the supporting documents I can’t say much more than that.”

USC defensive lineman Don Hill is also under investigation for the same incident which reportedly took place in July. The two are both under investigation for sexually assaulting the same woman in Hill’s off-campus house.

“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. “To protect the rights of the students and comply with federal privacy laws no other details will be provided.”

This comes the same week that a student at UNC Chapel Hill held a press conference to announce that a Tar Heels football player had raped her while the school attempted to cover up and stall the investigation of the incident.

With everything going on across the nation, even outside of football, with sexual assault allegations, something needs to be done sooner rather than later.