:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67708033/1177295932.0.jpg)
UCLA Bruins redshirt-senior defensive lineman Steven Mason has been suspended indefinitely from the team, following an October 10 arrest.
Mason, 22, was arrested Oct. 10 at 10:56 p.m. after UCLA police responded to a report of domestic violence in the 3300 block of Sawtelle Boulevard. Mason was transported to the UCLA Police Department, where he was booked and transported to L.A. County Jail on $150,000 bail.
Though he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence as well as child endangerment charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to file felony charges. They have since referred Mason’s case to the L.A. City Attorney’s Office and they’ve scheduled the matter for an ‘informal resolution’ during a hearing at the Airport Courthouse, according to a report from the LA Times.
The suspension, confirmed by UCLA in a statement that also said they will have no further comment, comes just days after head coach Chip Kelly stated that Mason was in quarantine after coming into contact with someone from outside the UCLA Athletics community and someone who had tested positive for COVID-19.
The informal resolution typically will consist of independent interviews with the accuser and accused, according to the LA Times.
A spokesperson for the L.A. City Attorney’s Office, speaking generally about informal hearing procedures, said they usually involve the suspect and victim having the opportunity on separate dates to speak about the alleged incident with a hearing officer. The suspect is typically admonished for his or her conduct and informed that if there is any similar subsequent conduct, charges for the initial incident could be filed before the expiration of the one-year statute of limitations.
Mason has played in eight games as a reserve defensive lineman. He transferred to UCLA after playing a season with Southwestern Junior College where he logged six games of action and 4.5 sacks in 2017.
He recorded seven total tackles across his eight games with UCLA last season.