One of several cases of sex assault dropped

PROVO — A 25-year-old Springville man facing trial on three separate cases of sexual assault had one of the cases dismissed Thursday in 4th District Court.

The case involving two second-degree felony charges of forcible sex abuse was dismissed, but Kent Parkinson still faces five more second-degree felony charges of forcible sex abuse, 10 charges of rape, two charges of aggravated kidnapping and two charges of forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies in the two remaining cases.

Deputy Utah County Attorney Dave Sturgill, who made the motion by the state to dismiss the case Thursday, said it was "in the interest of justice." Judge Samuel McVey accepted the motion after defense lawyers raised no objections.

Sturgill declined further comment.

Parkinson's attorney, Mike Esplin, had previously filed a motion to dismiss the case in question, arguing that the state's window for when the crimes allegedly occurred, between Sept. 1 and 30 of 2004, was too broad.

Esplin, who is representing Parkinson in one of the other cases, was tight-lipped after the case was dismissed.

"It was done in the interest of justice," he said. "For whatever reason, the state decided to dismiss this case."

Parkinson was originally charged with two separate incidents of sexual assault in October 2004.

While out on bail waiting for trial, he was arrested in December for another alleged case of rape and sexual assault.

In each of the three cases, prosecutors said Parkinson met the women on an online dating site for LDS singles, took them to his home to watch a movie, then assaulted them.