Comments on: Should Jalen Kitna Have Been Required To Register as a Sex Offender?

By: Facts should matter

Facts should matter — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 12:58:03 +0000

In reply to CherokeeJack. Same reason Ron Book and Matt Gaetz' D.U.I. charges magically went away. It's not what you did, it's who you KNOW. [Moderator’s note: Ron Book pled to a lesser charge, a common practice with which many FAC members are familiar. Matt Gaetz was not charged].

By: CherokeeJack

CherokeeJack — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:16:31 +0000

In reply to Education. @Education EXACTLY! I was run out of money and had to take a guilty plea. Only 3 out of the 10 charges did I actually do. Once the money ran out from bonding out and the lawyers fees, I was never offered a public defender. I plead for mercy but was given a 30 year sentence. When I did 10 of it, I went on a 3rd appeal and finally won but was still on registry for life.

By: Education

Education — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 22:23:28 +0000

Besides Kitna’s attorney from Gainesville, Florida, he also had Hank Coxe from Jacksonville, Florida, representing him. I have to wonder what kind of plea deal the rest of us would have received if we had had the money to hire both of these attorneys.

Hank Coxe’s credentials: https://www.bedellfirm.com/attorney/henry-m-coxe-iii/

By: Just Sayin

Just Sayin — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 22:15:35 +0000

In reply to Facts should matter. AGREED, Facts Should Matter. My prior post points out that there is no such thing as equal justice under the law in Florida courts or the Federal courts. My CP case was in Federal Court, a completely different jurisdiction than every Florida court. Yet here I am, a PFR in Florida because it's the only state where I had a much needed support system out of prison. I could've gone to other states that have less registry problems, but here I am...virtually unemployment and totally reliant on friends and family for help. Call me a crab. Call me anything you want. Just don't call me silent on the inequities in our legal systems. Note, they are NOT justice systems.

By: Mig

Mig — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 23:27:31 +0000

I have read the comments here and I understand that “crabs in the bucket” way of thinking that some have… “hey! If I have to register then so should this guy”. Well, I have to register, but I don’t want anyone else to register. Am I envious of Jalen Kitna and the deal he got? You bet. Do I wish I had his deal? Of course. Do I wish that Jalen Kitna did NOT get the deal he got? Not at all! I was very happy when I heard about the deal he got, and I hope that the next guy gets the same deal, and the next guy, and the next guy, etc. I hope everyone from this day forward gets that same deal. Of course, I know they won’t. But… perhaps Jalen Kitna getting this deal gives a little bit of ammo/argument for that next guy, and the next, and the next, etc., to get a similar deal.
I wish everyone here would look at this guy’s deal as a victory rather than a slap in the face. Outsiders (i.e. non-registered persons) might read all the comments here and come to the conclusion that even registered persons themselves think that some people should be on the registries. Well, I for one do NOT think that anyone should ever have to be on the registry. That goes for myself, Jalen Kitna, you, and everyone else forced to register. Perhaps we need to look at Jalen Kitna in a positive way rather than an envious way. Even when a dam bursts, it always starts with a small trickle of a leak, then those trickles get larger and larger… you get the picture.
My only concern with Jalen Kitna’s deal is that he does not end up re-offending. If he does, then that would fuel those that think that the registry is necessary.
So, as a registered person, ask yourself this… “Am I really unhappy that someone is NOT on the registry?”

By: ML

ML — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 23:19:17 +0000

I recall when his arrest was first reported, he was quoted as saying something to the effect that he thought that since the images were online, they were not illegal. Assuming that he is not the only person to hold this rather naive opinion, I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities for the state of Florida to put more naive young people on the registry. Maybe as part of his penance, Mr. Kitna could record a public service announcement to warn kids about the legal dangers of downloading such images.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 20:17:40 +0000

I’m happy that he doesn’t have to be on the registry because I wouldn’t wish it on anyone (well maybe Ron Book). The optimist in me hopes that this is the beginning of a trend of more appropriate sentencing based on severity of crime and criminal history. Let’s not forget this all took place as a state case in Gainesville, who recently rolled back their residency requirements.

By: Michael Pierce

Michael Pierce — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:39:23 +0000

In reply to Mig. Mig; Well said. Thank you

By: Facts should matter

Facts should matter — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:09:40 +0000

I hate to be one with the “crabs in a bucket” mentality, but yes. why? I had the same charge and I cannot move on. Why does this guy get to resume his life – free of marginalization, daily stress/anxiety and hate – when I cannot?

I do NOT care if this guy is still “young” and a “good “Christian” with his “whole life ahead of him.”

By: Bwj

Bwj — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 13:49:43 +0000

In reply to Eugene V. Debs. I disagree with the women who called Kitna's case second only to Epstein's for a travesty of justice. I'm not sure that one can even compare the two. But that appears to be a common perception,to believe that different sex crimes are all the same.