The Gainesville Police Department reported that a 19-year-old University of Florida quarterback was detained on Wednesday for alleged possession and distribution of child pornography. Son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, Jalen Kitna has also been banned from the Gators football team.
“We are stunned and saddened by the news of Jalen Kitna. These are incredibly grave allegations, and the University of Florida and the UAA have zero tolerance for such conduct. Jalen has been permanently suspended from the football team “In a statement, the University of Florida Athletic Association announced.
Police stated in a press statement that they executed a search warrant at Kitna’s home after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the inquiry, authorities discovered that two photographs depicting child sexual assault had been transmitted over the internet chat service Discord from Kitna’s residence.
On October 2, 2022, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, Jalen Kitna will quarterback the Florida Gators against the Eastern Washington Eagles. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire/Getty Photographers
Kitna allegedly confirmed to investigators that he disseminated the photographs, but believed it was “legal” because he obtained them online, according to police. After sending the images, he informed the police he understood he should not have because of the response from the Discord user.
Kitna’s Discord account was later terminated, he said police, after the chat platform notified him through email that he had broken its rules of service.
Police reported that investigators then uncovered three additional photographs of child sexual abuse material on electronic devices taken from Kitna’s residence. Two counts of dissemination of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography led to Kitna’s arrest.
Kitna already committed to the Gators in 2020. He wore a redshirt during the previous season and has appeared in four games this year. His father, Jon Kitna, played in the NFL for 14 seasons and retired in 2013.
»Florida Gators quarterback arrested and charged with child pornography«