Florida Backup QB Jalen Kitna Arrested, Faces Child Pornography Charges

University of Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna, son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, was arrested by Gainesville Police on Wednesday. The Florida player has been charged with two counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, local officers received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a Discord account in the Gainesville area had been distributing images of child sexual abuse. The account was later tied to Kitna’s name and residence. He was booked on Wednesday afternoon.

“Kitna stated that he remembered sharing the two images but believed them to be ‘legal,’ since he found them online,” a statement from the police department said. “Kitna advised that he realized he should not have shared those two images, based on the reaction from the other Discord user that he shared them with. Kitna advised shortly after that his Discord account was deactivated and that he assumed someone reported him.”

Following his arrest, all of Kitna’s electronics were seized and police claimed that further investigation revealed three more images of child sexual abuse. If Kitna is convicted, he could face a minimum of five years in prison. Mere possession of such material could carry a maximum of 10 years alone.

“The Gainesville Police Department wants parents to be aware that children are solicited and exploited through social networking applications,” the statement said. “Those social networking applications … are also used to share images and videos which depict young children being sexually abused.”

Since joining the Florida roster in 2020, Kitna missed his first season with an injury and redshirted. He appeared in four games this season as backup quarterback behind Anthony Richardson. His father played in the NFL from 1996 to 2011 and 2013 and coached him at Burleson High School in Texas.

Article by Patrick Moquin