Jalen Kitna is the son of long-time NFL QB Jon Kitna and a prospect that many felt would take over as the Florida starting quarterback next season.
That doesn’t look like it will be happening now.
Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna was arrested Wednesday on two counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography.
Kitna, the 19-year-old son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, was arrested by the Gainesville Police Department and booked into the Alachua County jail at 3:20 p.m. ET. He is expected to appear in court on Thursday morning to hear the charges against him, the GPD said.
He has been suspended indefinitely from the football program.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the news involving Jalen Kitna,” the University of Florida Athletic Association said in a statement. “These are extremely serious charges and the University of Florida and the UAA have zero tolerance for such behavior.”
According to a news release from the Gainesville Police Department, police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a user had distributed an image of child sexual abuse material on Discord, a social media platform.
Police allege that an investigation revealed Kitna was the probable owner of the Discord account.
The Gainesville Police Department said Kitna was interviewed by officers and said he thought the images he shared were “legal” because he found them online. Police say they searched Kitna’s electronic devices and found three more images of child sexual abuse material.
You have to be careful. Just because you find something “online” doesn’t mean it is legal.
With that being said, why are you sharing photos of someone being sexually abused, regardless of age and especially a child? That is the real question. Did he think it was funny? That is the answers we really need.
Here is the jail time he is looking at.
In Florida, the penalties associated with child pornography offenses vary depending on the type of offense. Overall, these punishments for these offenses include imprisonment, fines, probation and registration as a sex offender.
A charge for possession of child pornography is charged as a third-degree felony. If convicted, the defendant could face up to 5 years imprisonment and a maximum $5,000 fine for each illegal material or minor that is depicted in the image, video, or data.
In other words, if law enforcement finds that you are in possession of one image with two minors or two different pornographic materials, you will face up to 10 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
On the other hand, manufacturing, promoting, or distributing child pornography is classified as a second-degree felony which is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum $10,000 fine. Additionally, if a legal guardian, employs, induces, or authorizes a minor to engage in a sexual performance, the offender will also be charged with a 2nd-degree felony.
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