BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston has been charged with first-degree felony rape in Utah.
“This charge follows an investigation that began in February 2025 after the alleged victim, a female then 20-years-old, reported a sexual assault to officers at St. George Regional Hospital,” the Washington County Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
“The alleged victim reported that Kingston sexually assaulted her on February 23, 2025, in St. George. Detectives with the St. George Police Department then gathered digital and forensic evidence. They also conducted interviews with the parties involved and other witnesses. The information was then turned over to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for review,” the statement continued.
“Kingston has been taken into custody and is currently being held in Washington County without bail,” it added.
He has an initial appearance in court scheduled for Friday.
BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston has been charged with felony rape in Washington County. https://t.co/CRpycMh6Zf pic.twitter.com/ceTF44qYS7
— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) February 12, 2026
ESPN shared further:
Kingston was BYU’s leading receiver in 2025, catching 66 passes for 924 yards and five touchdowns.
This is the second high-profile allegation of rape against a BYU football player in the past year. In May, former quarterback Jake Retzlaff was accused of rape in a civil lawsuit before the parties jointly agreed in June to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it could not be refiled. No criminal charges were filed against Retzlaff. However, he would have faced a lengthy suspension for violating BYU’s honor code, which prohibits premarital sex, and transferred to Tulane.
“BYU became aware today of the arrest of Parker Kingston,” the university’s athletic department stated, according to ESPN.
“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,” it added.
Kingston’s arrest follows the announcement of his engagement at a basketball game last week.
Parker Kingston revealing he’s engaged at the BYU Basketball game. pic.twitter.com/QDzu6FwYX7
— Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) February 8, 2026
Fox News noted:
Kingston, 21, is being held without bail in St. George, a city near the Arizona border, Washington County prosecutors said. His initial appearance in court is scheduled for Friday, and punishment ranges from five years to life in prison.
The wide receiver appeared to make his engagement public during BYU’s recent men’s basketball game against Houston on Saturday. Kingston and his new fiancée were shown on the jumbotron, where she flashed her new engagement ring.