Jalen Kitna saw his dreams of being a starting collegiate quarterback take a major blow last November when he was arrested on felony child pornography charges. Two days later, head coach Billy Napier dismissed him from Florida’s football program.
Although the charges were ultimately dropped, the damage had already been done to the young student-athlete’s reputation. Kitna entered the transfer portal once his criminal case was settled last month, but he has yet to sign on with another program.
The son of retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna released a lengthy statement on Friday through a sports management company, calling the initial charges “not accurate,” while also citing a forensic investigation found no inappropriate material on any of his electronic devices. The former Gator also added that he went through an extensive psychosexual evaluation that determined that he is “in the lowest possible percentile for likelihood to commit a crime.”
“I understand that there are many who will never get past the original headlines, but for those who want to look at this objectively, I hope this will provide details to see the truth,” Kitna said. “I know with the continued love and support of those close to me — and hopefully some understanding by others — I’ll have a chance at the life that I dreamed of and worked so hard for.
“I am determined to use my story to help others avoid the pitfalls of naïve technology use.”
Kitna accepted a plea deal in early July that dismissed the five felony child pornography charges, instead pleading guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct, second-degree misdemeanors. A circuit judge placed Kitna on six months probation for each count but did not levy a fine or require him to register as a sex offender.
“I had hoped this outcome would exonerate me and provide understanding,” Kitna said. “The reaction has been quite the opposite and created even more confusion, with people making judgments based only on the initial reports, which didn’t tell the whole story.
“My family and I emphatically believe child pornography should not exist in our world. I did not commit a crime of this nature. The facts of the investigation and the resolution show this. I hope this statement will bring clarity to all those who care to know the truth.”
Gainesville Police arrested Kitna on two counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of possession of child pornography. GPD indicated that the defendant shared images of young girls being sexually abused via a social media platform, which Kitna now says were found on a “legal site.”
Florida has since lifted Kitna’s ban from campus. He remained enrolled in virtual classes while living at home with his parents in Burleson, Texas.
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