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University of Florida releases statement on Jalen Kitna arrest on child pornography charges, announces suspension

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz11/30/22

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Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

Jalen Kitna has been suspended indefinitely by Florida following his arrest on child pornography charges, the Gators said in a statement to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. Kitna was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon.

“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the news involving Jalen Kitna,” the statement read. “These are extremely serious charges and the University of Florida and the UAA have zero tolerance of such behavior. Jalen has been suspended in definitely from the football program.”

Kitna, the son of former NFL starter Jon Kitna, was arrested on child pornography charges, according to TMZ. The Alachua County Sherriff’s Office listed him in their database after he was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon, although his charges were initially unlisted.

A spokesperson for the Gainesville Police Dept. told TMZ that Kitna was booked on five separate charges. Those charges included two counts of distribution of child exploitation material, and three counts of possession of child pornography.

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The Alachua Chronicle reported that the Gainesville Police Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone in the area was using the online messaging service Discord to distribute an image of child sexual abuse.

The report states that Kitna’s electronic devices were seized after he told police two images he believed to be “legal” were shared from his account before it was deactivated. Kitna reportedly told police he found the images online.

Kitna served as Florida’s backup quarterback this year, completing 10 of 14 passes for 181 yards and four touchdowns during his time in Gainesville. He arrived on campus as a three-star recruit and was the No. 710 overall recruit from the class of 2021, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

On3’s James Fletcher III contributed to this report.