salt lake city — Brigham Young University said Friday that standout receiver Parker Kingston is no longer a student at the private Utah school after being at He was arrested this week Charged with first-degree rape.
Kingston, 21, made his first court appearance on Friday in St. George, where prosecutors say a woman who was 20 at the time told officers that Kingston assaulted her at her home last February. He was arrested after a year-long investigation in which investigators collected digital and forensic evidence and interviewed witnesses, Washington County Prosecutor Jerry Geiger said.
“I found by clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Kingston posed a danger to the community,” Judge John Walton said during the hearing.
However, Walton allowed Kingston to be released on Friday on $100,000 bail with $10,000 cash to be paid immediately to the court after he was initially held without bail.
Defense attorney Kara Tangaro agreed that Kingston cannot have contact with his accuser or any potential witnesses, must stay off social media and will wear a GPS ankle monitor to ensure he does not return to southwestern Utah County, except for a court appearance. He appeared before the judge via remote video link from prison on Friday.
If convicted, he could serve a prison sentence of between five years and life.
BYU spokesman John McBride said administration and coaches were not aware of the investigation and allegations against Kingston until after his arrest this week. He declined to answer whether Kingston was expelled from school or left voluntarily.
Tangaro told The Associated Press on Friday night that she had not yet spoken with Brigham Young University and could not comment on the case, per a court order.
Kingston told St. George police that “all sexual activity” with the woman accusing him of rape was “consensual,” according to an affidavit unsealed Thursday. The woman told investigators that she made it clear to Kingston before he came to her house that she did not want to have sex with him, and she asked him to stop several times when he started having sex, according to the affidavit.
BYU, the leading university in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintswidely known as the Mormon Church, has a strict honor code for students that prohibits all sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman. Those who violate it can face suspension, and for athletes, benching for several weeks.
Other top athletes including Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff He owns He chose to leave BYU When they face long suspensions for violating the honor code.
Kingston was BYU’s leading receiver last season.
He is expected to appear in court on February 25.