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Jun 18, 20261
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Judge Dismisses Rape Charge Against Former BYU Receiver Parker Kingston
A judge dismissed a first-degree felony rape charge against former BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston on Thursday after prosecutors were unable to proceed due to the alleged victim's medical condition. Prosecutors plan to refile the charge, and the alleged victim's family expressed disappointment with the court's decision.
Quick Facts
Who
Parker Kingston
What
First-degree felony rape charge dismissed without prejudice
When
February 2025 (alleged assault)
Where
St. George, Utah
- First-degree felony rape charge dismissed without prejudice
- State prosecutors requested continuance due to alleged victim's medical condition
- Court denied continuance request
- Defense opposed postponing trial citing right to speedy trial
- Case scheduled for trial in July before dismissal
A Washington County judge dismissed a first-degree felony rape charge against Parker Kingston, a former Brigham Young University standout wide receiver, on Thursday, though prosecutors indicated they plan to refile the charge.
Kingston was charged with rape in February following a yearlong investigation into an alleged assault in St. George, Utah. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case had been scheduled for trial in July, but state prosecutors requested a continuance due to the alleged victim's documented medical condition that prevented her from participating in trial proceedings. "The State cannot proceed without the victim. The State will not jeopardize the victim's health," Deputy Washington County Attorney Jerry Jaeger wrote in the continuance request filed June 16. The alleged victim's attorney also filed a joint request to delay the trial to allow for full recovery from medical issues.
The court denied the continuance request and instead dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning prosecutors retain the ability to refile charges. Kingston's defense team had opposed postponing the trial, arguing that a delay violated Kingston's right to a speedy trial and that the prolonged legal process had caused him significant stress and prevented him from completing his college degree. "Those harms deepen with every month of delay," Kingston's attorney Cara Tangaro wrote in response to the continuance motion.
According to prosecutors, a 20-year-old woman alleged that Kingston assaulted her at her home in February 2025. The woman told investigators she had explicitly told Kingston before he arrived that she did not want to have sex and repeatedly told him to stop when he initiated sexual contact. Kingston told St. George police that all sexual activity was "consensual." Kingston was the team's leading receiver last season before the charges were filed.
The alleged victim's family expressed their disappointment with the court's decision in a statement, saying: "Our hearts are with our daughter, who showed tremendous courage in coming forward and placing her trust in the justice system. Today, that trust was shattered when the Court prioritized getting an athlete back on the field over justice." Kingston's attorney declined to comment on the dismissal.
Why This Matters
This case highlights the tension between a defendant's constitutional right to a speedy trial and a victim's need for medical recovery—issues that matter deeply to both the accused and those seeking justice. The dismissal without prejudice keeps the legal door open for prosecutors to refile, but it raises questions about how courts balance victim welfare against defendants' rights, particularly in high-profile cases involving student-athletes. The family's statement underscores concerns that institutional pressures (getting an athlete back on the field) may overshadow justice for victims.