University of Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna was set to be freed from Alachua County Jail in Florida Thursday on an $80,000 bond after being arrested Wednesday on two counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography.
Kitna appeared in court Thursday morning and was ordered not to have access to the internet or unsupervised contact with kids.
Former NFL quarterback and father of Jalen – Jon Kitna – was present in the courtroom together with his wife, Jennifer Kitna.
Jalen Kitna, 19, was suspended indefinitely by the university on Wednesday.
“We are surprised and saddened to learn about Jalen Kitna’s death,” the University Athletic Association stated in a statement on Wednesday. “These are incredibly severe charges, and the University of Florida and the UAA have zero tolerance for such behavior.”
The Gainesville Police Department announced details of the arrest Thursday, stating that photographs featured a prepubescent girl having intercourse with an adult guy, according to the Associated Press.
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The investigation began in June when authorities got a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that photos of child pornography were being shared online via Discord, an instant messaging social platform.
The investigation led to Kitna, who remembered sending two photographs but believed them to be “legal” since he found them online.
The two photos were of a pubescent girl, with both photographs having the phrase “so young junior” inscribed on them.
A search of Kitna’s phone discovered three further images of two nude pubescent girls in the shower, which had been stored on Kitna’s phone in December.
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One of Kitna’s lawyers, Caleb Kenyon.
“Right now we’re all focusing on Jalen and giving him the support he needs,” Kenyon told Fox News. “He has a fantastic family that adores him and is helping him through this difficult time.”
Kitna, a redshirt freshman, appeared in four games during the 2022 season for the Gators.
