Parker Kingston is still represented by defense attorney Cara Tangaro. However, the former BYU wide receiver will not appear in court for his preliminary hearing for another few weeks.
His attorneys withdrew from representing him in a filing on Wednesday.
This could mean a few different things. The star college football pass-catcher is now scheduled to find out whether his case will continue to move forward in the courts later this month.
Parker Kingston retained his primary legal council.
The 21-year-old Utah-native was charged with a felony back in February. He maintains his innocence.
Kingston told St. George Police that “all sexual activity” with the woman who accused him of the crime was “consensual.” She claims he ignored multiple attempts to deescalate the situation before he initiated the unwanted interaction.
Regardless of whether the former BYU wide receiver is guilty or not, Kingston admitted to a violation of the university’s Honor Code. That required him to leave the university, either by mandate or by choice. He is no longer enrolled at Brigham Young. He is no longer on the Cougars’ college football roster.
Those who violate the Honor Code can face suspension or expulsion and/or the loss of ecclesiastical endorsement. There is a path to return to full fellowship through the process of repentance but it seems unlikely that Kingston would be able to play in 2026. Especially without a verdict.
Parker Kingston retained Salt Lake City defense attorney Cara Tangaro as his attorney at the beginning of this legal process. She worked out a deal with the state’s attorney for her client’s release on bail and other stipulations when the charges were first filed. She also helped to get his ankle monitor removed last month because the district judge agreed that he is not a flight risk. Both are good signs.
The former BYU wide receiver’s attorneys suddenly withdrew.
Tangaro continues to represent BYU’s leading pass-catcher from a year ago. However, the most recent hearing was rescheduled for currently unknown reasons.
According to Emma Pitts of Deseret News, “attorneys for Parker Kingston withdrew from representing Kingston in a filing on Wednesday.” He was expected to appear in 5th District Court in St. George, Utah for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. The hearing will now be delayed until April 23.
It should be reiterated that he is still represented by Tangaro, which makes things confusing.
That could mean a few different things:
- Kingston had multiple defense attorneys and some (unnamed) attorneys withdrew.
- A formal request was made by some lawyers to leave the case, which was approved by the court, but the case continues because Tangaro is still retained as counsel.
- Tangaro had a scheduling issue and had to bail on Kingston.
- Tangaro decided to approach the case from a new direction.
- Financial considerations caused a downsizing.
- A conflict of interest.
We do not know exactly what caused Parker Kingston’s attorneys to withdraw on Wednesday. However, it is usually about logistics, strategy or money. Rarely does this kind of change indicate a sudden revelation about the case itself. For Tangaro to stay on likely hints at a shift in strategy.
Kingston is set to appear in court on April 23. A preliminary hearing determines whether or not there is enough evidence for a case to move forward. It does not decide guilt or innocence.