Florida Gators backup QB Jalen Kitna accused of possessing child pornography

Jalen Kitna, a backup quarterback for the University of Florida football team, is accused of possessing child pornography, authorities said Wednesday.

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Kitna, 19, a redshirt sophomore and the son of former 14-year veteran NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, was booked into the Alachua County Jail on Wednesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Jalen Kitna was charged with five counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography, according to Alachua County online court records. According to a news release from the Gainesville Police Department, two of the counts were for the distribution of child exploitation material, while the other three counts were for possession of child pornography

All are second-degree felonies.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, Kitna was arrested for sharing explicit images over Discord, an online instant messaging platform, The Independent Florida Alligator newspaper reported.

He was booked into the Alachua County Jail at 3:20 pm EST, Sports Illustrated reported.

Jalen Kitna is scheduled to make his first appearance Thursday morning at the Alachua County Courthouse, according to the Gators Online website.

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

Evidence of possession with intent to promote includes having three or more copies of a video, photograph or other representation, according to Florida statutes.

Kitna appeared in four games this season, the Times reported.

No other details have been released.

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