Rape charge refiled against former BYU Football player Parker Kingston

ST. GEORGE, Utah (KSL) — The Washington County Attorney’s Office refiled charges against a former BYU Football wide receiver on Thursday, signaling they may now be ready to move toward trial.

Parker Kingston, 22, was accused of rape, a first-degree felony, and was scheduled for a jury trial in July. After prosecutors said the woman who made the allegations was not ready to testify at trial and needed more time, 5th District Judge Jay Winward denied their request to delay the trial and dismissed the case.

He said there is no constitutional right to delay a trial, but there is a right to a speedy trial.

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The woman’s family said they were “shocked and deeply disappointed” by that ruling, but said their fight for justice would continue. A statement after charges were re-filed by her attorney, Andrew Deesing, thanked the prosecutors for their “determination to pursue the case.”

“Their decision to refile these charges has renewed my client’s faith in the justice system and her belief that her voice will be heard. She has shown extraordinary courage and resolve throughout this process. We look forward to seeing this matter proceed through the courts and to the pursuit of justice,” the statement said.

Thursday’s charging documents claimed Kingston traveled to St. George to spend time with the woman, who had told him not to come if the only reason was to have sex with her.

It said both Kingston and the woman agreed that they talked and then watched a movie in the woman’s room, engaging in some consensual sexual activity but not sexual intercourse.

The woman claimed she left the room and then came back and Kingston “became more aggressive” and wanted to have sexual intercourse and she told him “no” four times, charges said, before he had sex with her without her consent.

Kingston claims that the woman did not say no to sexual intercourse, but that he received a text from her an hour after he left saying she had told him no.

The charges also had texts between Kingston and a friend where he said he “cracked her,” and said he later told investigators that meant to have sex. Most of the messages between him and the woman were on Snapchat, and are no longer available.