ST. GEORGE, Utah - Former BYU standout Parker Kingston faced a pivotal moment in court on Wednesday, as he appeared virtually for a hearing related to his first-degree felony rape charge.
The discovery hearing centered around whether the accuser's statements would be permitted in the upcoming proceedings, scheduled for Monday. Defense attorney Cara Tangaro advocated for the inclusion of these statements and sought permission to cross-examine the detective involved in the case. County Attorney Ryan Shaum agreed to the cross-examination but resisted the inclusion of the victim's statement.
Ultimately, the judge decided in favor of allowing both the cross-examination and the full statement at the next hearing.
The case stems from a report made by a 20-year-old woman in February 2025, alleging sexual assault. According to court documents, the victim communicated with investigators on June 3, detailing an encounter on February 23, 2025, when Kingston visited her residence.
The victim recounted that during their online exchanges prior to the incident, she clearly expressed her unwillingness to engage in sexual intercourse. Upon Kingston's arrival, they watched a movie and engaged in some sexual activity, excluding intercourse.
Investigators reported that the victim claimed Kingston fell asleep during the movie. When she returned to the room after preparing for bed, Kingston allegedly attempted to initiate further sexual activities, despite her repeated refusals.
Police allege that Kingston ignored the victim's protests, leading to the charge of rape.