BYU’S star wide receiver Parker Kingston has been charged with first-degree felony rape, Utah prosecutors officially announced in a statement released Wednesday.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office confirmed the charges following a nearly year-long investigation into the 21-year-old athlete’s conduct and history.
The probe began after a 20-year-old woman reported a sexual assault to officers at St. George Regional Hospital during the early morning hours of the incident.
The alleged victim told police that Kingston sexually assaulted her on February 23, 2025, sparking an immediate inquiry by the local St. George Police Department.
‘Detectives with the St. George Police Department then gathered digital and forensic evidence,’ the attorney’s office said in a formal news release today.
‘They also conducted interviews with the parties involved and other witnesses. The information was then turned over to the County Attorney’s Office for review.’
BYU’S star wide receiver Parker Kingston has been charged with first-degree felony rape
The Washington County Attorney’s Office confirmed the charges following a nearly year-long investigation into the 21-year-old athlete’s conduct and history
Kingston is currently being held without bail in Washington County and is scheduled to make his first appearance in Utah’s Fifth Judicial District Court Friday.
BYU athletic officials addressed the arrest in a brief statement released Wednesday afternoon as the news of the felony charge broke across the local community.
‘BYU became aware today of the arrest of Parker Kingston,’ the athletic department said. ‘The university takes any allegation very seriously,’ they continued.
‘The university will cooperate with law enforcement. Due to federal and university privacy laws, the university will not be able to provide further comment.’
Officials added that they would not be providing further details on Kingston’s status with the team or his future enrollment at the private religious university.
Kingston was a standout performer for the Cougars during the 2025 season, leading the roster in multiple categories before these legal troubles became public.
He was the team’s leading receiver, recording 66 catches for 924 yards and five touchdowns during a season where he was considered a key offensive playmaker.
Kingston was a standout performer for the Cougars during the 2025 season, leading the roster in multiple categories before these legal troubles became public
The arrest marks the second high-profile rape allegation to hit the BYU football program in the past twelve months, causing significant concern for the school.
In May, former quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of rape in a civil lawsuit, though those legal proceedings ended shortly after the initial filing occurred.
That case was dismissed with prejudice in June after both parties reached an agreement, and no criminal charges were ever filed by the local district attorney.
Retzlaff later transferred to Tulane after facing a potential suspension for violating BYU’s strict ‘honor code,’ which prohibits any form of premarital sex.
