Judge orders former BYU football player Parker Kingston to stand trial on rape charge
A judge on Thursday ordered Parker Kingston, a 22-year-old former BYU wide receiver, to stand trial for rape following a preliminary hearing.
BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston (11) looks back as he scores a touchdown during the second half of the game against the UCF Knights at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Nov. 29, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News ST.
GEORGE — A judge ordered Parker Kingston, a former BYU wide receiver, to stand trial for rape, a first-degree felony, following a preliminary hearing Thursday. Fifth District Judge Jay Winward bound him over for trial, but said there was “conflicting credible” evidence presented by the defense. Prosecutors presented text messages between Kingston and a friend that were sent before the incident and shortly afterward.
Among those messages was one in which Kingston indicated he had just had sexual intercourse with the alleged victim, St. George police detective Cody Layton testified. He said much of the communication between Kingston, 22, and the woman was done through the Snapchat app, and those messages were not able to be recovered.
The only messages recovered were from Kingston’s phone. The alleged victim, 20, called police on Feb. 27, four days after Kingston had gone to her house, to report that she had been raped.