ST. GEORGE — The Fifth District courtroom was quiet as BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston appeared on a television screen via WebEx Friday afternoon for a hearing to determine whether he would be granted bail and to set a date for his next court appearance.
Several local BYU fans were present in the courtroom, drawn by "curiosity" of the case, though no family or friends of Kingston's were present.
Kingston, 21, who is facing a first-degree felony rape charge stemming from an incident involving a then 20-year-old woman in February 2025, appeared from Washington County Jail wearing a white and gray jail-issued jumpsuit. His shoulders were slumped, and his expression was mostly blank as Judge Jay T. Winward began proceedings.
Despite his demeanor, Kingston spoke in an upbeat tone, telling the judge he was doing well.
He is being represented by Cara Tangaro of the Utah-based Tangaro Law, a former prosecutor with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office who has also taught classes at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
Before the hearing, the state and defense reached an agreement for Kingston to be released on bail set at $100,000, or $10,000 in cash, a request Judge Winward approved.
Under the terms of his release, Kingston cannot have any contact with potential witnesses and is barred from posting anything on social media, a measure meant to protect the alleged victim and her family.
Kingston is also required to wear a GPS ankle monitor and cannot enter Washington County without permission from the court.
If he agrees to meet these conditions, Kingston is expected to be released from custody on Friday night. He will have another hearing on Feb. 25 prior to his preliminary hearing scheduled for April 13.
Following Wednesday’s hearing, Brigham Young University released an official statement addressing the university’s lack of prior knowledge regarding the investigation, as well as Parker Kingston’s status going forward as a student-athlete at BYU.
"As of Friday, Parker Kingston is no longer a student at Brigham Young University and is no longer a member of the BYU football team," the statement read. "University administration and athletic administration, including BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake, were only made aware of the investigation and allegations after Kingston's arrest this past Wednesday, Feb. 11."