BYU students react to rape charge against BYU football player Parker Kingston

Parker Kingston, a wide receiver for Brigham Young University, has been charged with one count of first-degree felony rape by the Washington County Attorney's Office. Kingston is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Washington County at 1:30 p.m.

Prosecutors assert the incident occurred on Feb. 23, 2025. The charge was filed on Feb. 10, 2026, following a year-long investigation.

Kingston is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

According to the probable cause statement filed by the Washington County Attorneys Office, a 20-year-old woman reported that on Feb. 23, 2025, Kingston went to her home in the early morning hours. The two watched a movie together. The court documents state that while watching the movie, they engaged in some sexual activity that did not include intercourse.

According to the probable cause statement the woman told investigators after the previous encounter ended, Kingston began to fall asleep. She left the room to get ready for bed and returned approximately 15 minutes later. At her return, Kingston initiated sexual activity again.

The documents state the woman reported telling him to stop multiple times and attempting to push him away. The woman then reported to investigators that Kingston raped her.

According to the documents, in an interview at the Washington County Attorneys Office, the woman stated that she had told Kingston multiple times before he came over that she did not want to have sex, and if that was the reason he wanted to meet up, he should not come.

In an interview, Kingston told investigators that all sexual activity between the two parties was consensual, according to information detailed in the probable cause statement.

Court documents said the investigation included a search of Kingstons phone, and based on his communications, it can be inferred that he went to her apartment with the intention of having sexual intercourse.

Kingston was arrested earlier this week and is being held without bail.

In response to Kingstons arrest, BYUs athletic department released a statement.

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, the statement read.

This marks the second rape allegation involving a BYU football player within the past year.

In May 2025, former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was the subject of a civil lawsuit that alleged he raped a woman in 2023. In response, Retzlaff denied the allegations and, in June 2025, the lawsuit was dismissed.

Retzlaff was never criminally charged, distinguishing his situation from the current case involving Kingston, in which prosecutors filed a felony rape charge.

A civil lawsuit, such as in Retzlaffs case, is a private party seeking damages. However, a criminal charge is a state prosecution that can result in a prison sentence.

While the circumstances of the two cases differ, the new charge has renewed conversations among students and the BYU community about accountability, athlete conduct and respecting BYUs honor code.

News of Kingstons charge spread quickly across the BYU campus, prompting reactions from students.

Many student reactions centered on BYUs Honor Code. The BYU Honor Code is a set of behavioral standards students agree to live by.

Some of those standards include being honest, abstaining from sexual relations outside of marriage, following dress and grooming standards, church attendance and abstaining from alcohol and other substance use.

Sam Sykes, a BYU student, said his immediate reaction was shock.

That just makes me feel sick. Its horrible. Its not in line with the honor code or just even being a good person, Sykes said.

Jake Thomas, another BYU student, echoed that sentiment, pointing to both legal and university standards.

Its a bad situation, but mostly for the girl and what happened to her. And if thats really what happened, then justice needs to be served, Thomas said.

Quinlin Haglund, another BYU student, said he would have been disturbed regardless of who was accused.

If I'd read that story with anybodys name attached to it, I would have been horrified and disgusted, Haglund said. But what makes it worse in my mind is that its someone who promised to live by the honor code.

Some students also expressed concern about how the situation reflects on the university as a whole. Mason Fenton said BYU often faces heightened scrutiny because of its affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I think people scrutinize BYU a lot because its associated with our church, Fenton said. So I think its hard to hear when things like this happen because it gives fuel to that fire.

Harrison Swift, another BYU student, said the universitys religious affiliation and honor code make instances like these particularly jarring.

I think when these things happen at BYU, it is a lot more shocking than at other colleges because of the honor code," Swift said.

Students cautioned against generalizing one persons actions as a reflection of Brigham Young University.

Its just one persons actions, Sykes said. Even though he is kind of a public figure of the school as a starting wide receiver, you should look at (BYU) as a whole rather than the actions of one person.

Alanis Reck, a BYU student, said the case also serves as a reminder about safety.

As women, I think we always have to be careful, even if they are members of the Church or BYU students, Reck said.

Reck feels the case is sad, but added she is relieved it is moving through the legal system.

Im happy he was arrested and that she was able to stand against him because I know that is hard," Reck said.

As the legal process unfolds, many students are watching closely to see how the court appearances play out.

This case will proceed through the Washington County court system.

Anyone affected by sexual assault can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or contact the BYU Title IX Office here.