Former 19 Kids and Counting Star Josh Duggar Guilty of Child Porn Possession
(FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.) — A federal jury in Arkansas on Thursday convicted former reality TV star Josh Duggar of downloading and possessing child pornography.
Fayetteville is about 140-miles (225 km) north of Little Rock. A jury found Duggar guilty of one charge each of child pornography possession and receipt. He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count when he’s sentenced at a later date.
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Duggar and his large Arkansas family starred on TLC’s 19 Children and CountingThe network cancelled the program in 2015 after he was accused of having molested his four sisters and their babysitter. After receiving information from a friend, authorities began to investigate the allegations of abuse. However, they concluded that there was no statute of limitations for any potential charges.
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Duggar’s parents said he had confessed to the fondling and apologized. Duggar apologized later for his pornography addiction, and for cheating with his wife.
A judge in the case against child porn ruled that jurors would be allowed to hear testimony from Duggar regarding how he molest four teenage girls in 2003. A friend of the family testified that Duggar confided to her the details.
The federal authorities stated that they started investigating when a Little Rock police officer discovered child porn files being shared through a computer connected to Duggar. Federal agents testified that photos depicting child sexual abuse, including those of toddlers were downloaded onto Duggar’s computer in 2019.
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Duggar’s attorney argued that someone else downloaded or uploaded the images onto Duggar’s computer. But the jury wasn’t swayed.
Duggar’s father Jim Bob Duggar, who also starred on the reality show, is running in a special election for a vacant state Senate seat in northwestern Arkansas. He was previously a member of the Arkansas House.