Former Florida Quarterback Jalen Kitna Accepts Plea Deal, Dropping Child Pornography Charges

Former Florida quarterback Jalen Kitna, son of retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, reached an agreement on Wednesday to accept a plea deal, resulting in the dismissal of five felony child pornography charges that arose from his arrest in November of last year.

Instead, Kitna pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct, which are considered second-degree misdemeanors.

Under the ruling of Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Susan Miller-Jones, Kitna was placed on six months’ probation for each count. However, no fine was imposed, and he was not required to register as a sex offender, despite his age of 20.

In the presence of his mother and father, Kitna expressed remorse and read a statement acknowledging his wrongdoing.

“I would like to begin by offering my sincere apologies to my family, friends, and all those who care about me,” Kitna stated. “Their unwavering support throughout this entire ordeal has meant the world to me. The most difficult aspect of this process has been witnessing how it has affected them.

“The lessons I have learned from this experience have been invaluable. I am eager to apply these lessons and move forward.”

On November 30, 2022, Kitna was arrested by the Gainesville Police Department on charges of five felony child pornography offenses, including two counts of distributing child exploitation material and three counts of possessing child pornography.

According to the police report, Kitna had shared two images depicting the sexual abuse of young girls via a social media platform. Further investigation revealed three additional images on his phone, saved from a year earlier, showing two nude young girls in a shower. The report did not specify the ages of the girls involved.

Following his arrest, Kitna was promptly dismissed from the Gators football team. He returned to his family home in Burleson, Texas, after posting bail and completed online classes during the spring semester. The university imposed a ban on his presence on campus until November 2025.

Kitna’s attorney, Ron Kozlowski, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, describing it as fair and appropriate. He told the Orlando Sentinel, “The state and we are in agreement, and we are content with that. This will provide Jalen with an opportunity to take the next step in his life, whatever that may be.”

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