3rd rape arrest for Internet dater

PROVO — A Springville man has been arrested a third time for allegedly raping a woman he met via an Internet dating service for LDS singles.

Kent Parkinson, 25, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of rape, forcible sodomy and aggravated kidnapping. Police say he repeatedly raped a 28-year-old woman he held hostage for 10 hours.

"We believe he is a serial rapist," Deputy Utah County Attorney Dave Sturgill told a judge during Parkinson's bail hearing Thursday morning.

Parkinson was arrested Wednesday after the woman told police the man took her to an Orem house to watch a movie. While there, according to a probable-cause statement written by the officer who investigated the case, he attacked and raped her 10 times.

The woman told police she met the man through a Web site, www.singlesaints.com.

She said he identified himself as "Jeff Johnson," said Orem Police Lt. Doug Edwards.

Parkinson has also used the alias "Lance Bingham" on other Internet sites that cater to single members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Edwards said.

Attempts to contact officials at Singlesaints.com were unsuccessful.

Parkinson, who was out on bail, already faces seven second-degree felony charges of forcible sex abuse in Provo's 4th District Court. The cases have not been adjudicated yet, largely because prosecutors have been seeking more information from the accusers.

"We believe that there's a pattern here," says Marianne O'Bryant, another deputy Utah County attorney.

O'Bryant and Sturgill are working on the two previous cases.

Parkinson was arrested twice in October 2004 for two incidents. In both cases, he allegedly met two women online, then got together to watch a movie. While watching, he would allegedly touch, fondle and assault the women, despite their refusals and commands to stop, according to police.

In July, O'Bryant filed a motion for the cases to be consolidated, which would allow the two women to testify together if the case went to trial.

Parkinson has not been charged in the most recent case.

In the most recent police report, the woman told police said she met the man online and they arranged to meet at her parents' home in Orem. Her parents weren't home, so the man took her to a vacant home in Orem.