Felony charge filed against BYU player Parker Kingston

A wide receiver for Brigham Young University has been charged with rape in connection with an alleged assault that prosecutors say occurred nearly a year ago in southern Utah.

Parker Kingston, 21, was charged Wednesday in 5th District Court with rape, a first-degree felony. The charge stems from an incident reported to have taken place on Feb. 23, 2025, in St. George.

According to charging documents filed by the Washington County Attorney’s Office, Kingston went to the residence of a 20-year-old woman during the early morning hours after communicating with her online. Prosecutors allege that the woman told Kingston multiple times before he arrived that she did not want to have sex and that he should not come if that was his intention.

Court documents state that after arriving at the woman’s residence, the two watched a movie and engaged in some sexual activity. Prosecutors allege that when the woman later returned to the room after getting ready for bed, Kingston initiated sexual activity again. The woman told investigators she asked him to stop several times and attempted to push him off, but he continued.

The woman reported the alleged assault four days later after going to St. George Regional Hospital, according to the charges. Detectives with the St. George Police Department collected digital and forensic evidence and conducted interviews before submitting the case to prosecutors for review.

When questioned by investigators, Kingston said the encounter was consensual, according to the charging documents. Prosecutors wrote that communications obtained from Kingston’s cellphone after the incident support an inference that he went to the woman’s apartment intending to have sexual intercourse.

Kingston was arrested in Provo on Wednesday and later transferred to the Washington County Jail in Hurricane. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

In a statement, BYU said it became aware of the arrest Wednesday and that the university “takes any allegation very seriously and will cooperate with law enforcement.” Citing federal and university privacy laws, the school declined further comment.

Kingston, a native of Layton, is a rising senior. Last season he recorded 928 receiving yards and five touchdowns and returned 17 punts for 230 yards and a touchdown for the Cougars.