Florida backup quarterback Jalen Kitna was fired from the Gators on Friday, a day after he was launched on bail from the Alachua County Jail on felony baby pornography costs.
Kitna was launched on $80,000 bail Thursday night time after his first look on the Alachua County courthouse on Thursday morning.
Wearing darkish inexperienced overalls, Kitna appeared earlier than Alachua District Courtroom Choose Mechon T. Rawls on closed-circuit tv with clenched fists and infrequently bowed head for an hour and a half listening to. Rawls posted a bond of $25,000 for every of the primary two counts and $10,000 for 3 extra counts.
If discovered responsible, Kitna might face a compulsory jail sentence of 20 months.
Kitna, 19, was arrested Wednesday on 5 counts of kid pornography, together with distribution and possession of kid pornographic pictures that investigators say have been self-produced.
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His attorneys, Ron Kozlowski and Caleb Kenyon, argued for his launch with out bail to his dad and mom in Texas, citing state regulation concerning bail tips for costs.
However prosecution legal professional Celeste Ramirez of the state’s legal professional’s workplace mentioned bail was mandatory based mostly on the character of the proof documented in Kitna’s arrest report, which included pictures of underage youngsters and minors.
New case particulars
The Gainesville police arrest report, launched Thursday, offers extra particulars on the case. In keeping with the report, the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Kids acquired an investigation from Discord concerning certainly one of their consumer accounts linked to baby exploitation.
Discord offered the uploaded IP handle, which fits again to Kitna’s Gainesville handle and the Verizon cellphone account that Kitna’s father, John, is following.
In keeping with an announcement launched Thursday by the corporate concerning the incident, “Discord has a zero-tolerance coverage for baby sexual abuse, which has no place on our platform or wherever else in society. We’re working tirelessly to search out and take away this disgusting content material. and take motion, together with blocking accountable customers and interesting with related authorities.”
In keeping with the report, the historical past of the cellphone chat confirmed Kitna’s intent to flow into the primary two pictures, which confirmed minors in sexual positions sporting solely a bra. The final three pictures, in accordance with the report, have been discovered on Kitna’s iPhone, displaying two bare youngsters within the bathe touching one another’s chest in numerous poses.
The report states that the pictures seem to have been self-produced.
What the protection says
Kitna’s household and attorneys put together to contest the costs and clear the participant’s title, although they initially say they’re providing their assist.
“We’ll speak to the household, they may behave as they need,” mentioned Kozlowski, his lawyer. “Now we’re not a lot serious about the right way to take care of this case, however attempting to get Jalena the love and assist that he wants proper now. We’ll take care of this matter in due time, and now that is our objective.
Additionally current on the listening to have been Kitna’s father, former NFL quarterback John Kitna, and mom Jennifer Kitna. The household additionally employed legal professional Henry Cox and Brian T. Coughlin in Jacksonville to assist with the case.
Situations for his launch on bail will embody a ban on contact with minors below 18 and Web entry.
