BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston has been arrested and charged with first-degree felony r*pe in Washington County, Utah, following a nearly yearlong investigation into an alleged sexual assault in St. George.
Prosecutors announced the charge on Wednesday, and Kingston, 21, is currently being held in the Washington County jail without bail ahead of an initial court appearance scheduled for Friday in Utah’s Fifth Judicial District Court.
Why Was Parker Kingston’s Arrested?
According to a news release from the Washington County Attorney’s Office, the charge stems from an alleged incident on February 23, 2025, in St. Georg. A 20-year-old woman reported to staff at St. George Regional Hospital that she had been s**ually a**aulted by Kingston.
Detectives with the St. George Police Department then spent months gathering digital and forensic evidence and conducting interviews with the parties involved and other witnesses, authorities said. Once the investigation was completed, the case was turned over to the Washington County Attorney’s Office, which reviewed the material and filed a single count of first-degree felony r*pe against Kingston this week.
What Will Happen to Parker Kingston if Convicted?
If convicted, a first-degree felony rape charge in Utah carries the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence.
BYU’s Statement on Parker Kingston’s Arrest
Brigham Young University issued a brief statement after news of the arrest became public, saying it had only just become aware of the charge.
“BYU became aware today of the arrest of Parker Kingston,” the athletic department said. “The university takes any allegation very seriously, and will cooperate with law enforcement. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.”
The school has not announced any roster decision or disciplinary measures, but BYU’s honor code and student-conduct processes operate separately from the criminal courts and could come into play regardless of the case’s outcome.
The program dealt with a separate high-profile situation last year, when quarterback Jake Retzlaff faced a civil sexual-assault lawsuit and ultimately left BYU while facing a lengthy honor-code suspension, despite never being criminally charged.
Parker Kingston’s Relationship
Parker Kingston recently proposed to his fiancée Lily Lee during a BYU men’s basketball game against Houston on February 7, 2026, just four days before his arrest on a first-degree felony r*pe charge.
Kingston’s On-field Performance
Kingston is one of BYU’s most productive offensive players and was expected to be a focal point of the Cougars’ 2026 attack. In the 2025 season, he led the team with 66 receptions for 924 yards and five receiving touchdowns, also contributing as a rusher and returner.
The Utah native had announced on January 2 that he would return to BYU for his final season of eligibility instead of entering the NFL Draft. Kingston appeared at a BYU men’s basketball game days before his arrest and was shown on the arena video board.
