A standout college football player is now facing extremely serious criminal charges.
Parker Kingston, a wide receiver for the Brigham Young University Cougars, has been charged with first-degree felony rape, according to authorities.
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Washington County Attorney’s Office announced in a Facebook news release that the charge stems from an alleged incident that occurred on Feb. 23, 2025, in St. George, Utah.
According to the release, the investigation began in February 2025 after a 20-year-old woman reported an alleged sexual assault to officers at St. George Regional Hospital.
Detectives with the St. George Police Department collected digital and forensic evidence and conducted interviews with those involved, along with other witnesses. The findings were then submitted to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for review.
Kingston, 21, has since been taken into custody and is being held in Washington County without bail. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m. local time in Utah’s Fifth Judicial District Court.
In its statement, the Washington County Attorney’s Office emphasized that it “takes allegations of sexual assault seriously” and thanked medical professionals and law enforcement officers for their work during the investigation.
BYU also acknowledged Kingston’s arrest in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“BYU became aware today of the arrest of Parker Kingston. 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.”
A spokesperson for the Washington County Attorney’s Office confirmed that Jason Schatz of the Schatz Anderson law firm has informed officials that he is being retained to represent Kingston.
The arrest marks a dramatic turn for the athlete, who was coming off a major season. According to BYU’s Daily Universe Sports website, Kingston was the team’s leading receiver during the 2025 season, finishing with 66 receptions, 924 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 199 yards and scored another touchdown on the ground.
Just weeks ago, on Jan. 2, Kingston shared on Instagram that he planned to return to BYU for his final college season.
“One last ride!! Thank you to the coaches and BYU for investing in me. We’ve got unfinished business to take care of let’s get it #gocougs #lastdance,” he wrote.
Kingston’s arrest comes after another high-profile legal controversy involving a BYU player. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in May of last year over an alleged 2023 incident. That case was later dismissed, and Retzlaff transferred to Tulane University to play for the Tulane Green Wave.
Kingston’s case is ongoing.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org for confidential support.
Some football players think they are God’s gift to women
It’s about time they start taking women who have been sexually assaulted seriously. So many times in colleges it is a “star” athlete and nothing is done. It’s shameful.