SOUTHERN CAL FOOTBALL PLAYER CHARGED WITH RAPE

Utah prosecutors filed rape charges Thursday against a University of Southern California football player who also is under investigation in connection with an alleged sexual assault in California involving the same victim.

Osa Masina is accused of sexual- ly assaulting the woman after she passed out after a party the night of July 25 in a Salt Lake City suburb, according to charging documents filed by Utah authorities. The woman, 19, told investigators the assaults occurred after drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at a party with Masina, whom she had known for several years. Masina is charged with one count of rape and two counts of forcible sodomy. Masina, 19, acknowledged having sex with the woman but said it was consensual, Salt Lake County District Attorney

Sim Gill said. Masina and teammate Don Hill are under investigation in connection with an alleged sexual assault July 14 in California that happened after the accuser visited Masina, documents said. Gill declined to elaborate on the relationship between Masina and the accuser.