Judge drops GPS requirement for UFC fighter accused of rape
A Tarrant County judge has dropped a requirement for Abdul Razak Alhassan to wear a GPS monitoring system while he is undergoing hearings and investigations into whether the UFC fighter raped two women earlier this year.
Tarrant County Criminal Magistrate Timmie White pointed out that Alhassan has no previous criminal record and that there had been no evidence that he has tried to contact either of the alleged victims.
Alhassan, who last fought and won in the first round over Niko Price at UFC 228 in September, was working as a bouncer at the Varsity Tavern at 1005 Norwood St. in March when Saginaw, Texas police allege he drove two intoxicated women home from the bar, then raped both women inside one of their homes.
He was charged in the case in April and released from jail on a $20,000 bond. A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Alhassan on two counts of sexual assault on Sept. 24.
Abdul Razak Alhassan’s defense attorney, Brandon Barnett, had argued in a bond hearing, argued that the GPS monitoring system interfered with the fighter’s training.
Prosecutor Allyson Kucera had asked the judge to keep the GPS requirement in place. She told White the alleged victims both reside in Tarrant County and have concerns for their safety, especially given that the alleged rape occurred at one of their homes.
“In the time I’ve gotten to know him through our 13 visits, he has not given me a reason to not trust him,” said Heidi McCusker, Alhassan’s Tarrant County bond supervisor.
As a result of the positive testimony, the judge released the GPS requirement but issued a warning.
“I don’t see any reason for me to stop him from making his living,” Judge White said. If he so much as sneezes during the wrong time,” or tries to contact his alleged victims, “you go back to jail.”
