Former University of Florida (UF) Gators quarterback Jalen Kitna on Wednesday avoided being registered as a sex offender in a plea bargain stemming from a child pornography case, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Authorities arrested Kitona on November 30, 2022. He was charged with five felonies, including distributing child exploitative materials and possessing child pornography. according to AP.
Police said Kitona is suspected of sharing images of a girl being sexually abused and storing pictures of the two girls in the shower on her mobile phone.
The former quarterback pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and signed a contract to have the felony dismissed, according to the Associated Press. (Related: University of Florida QB Anthony Richardson Ditches “AR-15” Nickname)
Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Susan Miller Jones gave Kitna six months of probation on each count, The Associated Press reported.
Jalen Kitna terminates contract with Florida prosecutor over child pornography case https://t.co/hKC2mmjgpM pic.twitter.com/XjIqQIjdsz
— New York Postsports (@nypostsports) July 5, 2023
The Gators fired Kitna within days of his arrest. He will be banned from university campuses until November 2025, according to the newspaper.
Kitona apologized to family and friends before reflecting on the “valuable lessons” she “learned throughout this transaction,” according to the Associated Press.
“I’m looking forward to applying them and moving forward,” added the former quarterback.