Josh Duggar convicted of kid porn expenses, faces as much as 20 years in jail – Nationwide

Former actuality TV star Josh Duggar was instantly taken into custody Thursday after a federal jury convicted him of downloading and possessing youngster pornography.

The jury in Fayetteville, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, discovered the 33-year-old Duggar responsible on one depend every of receiving and possessing youngster pornography. He faces as much as 20 years in jail and fines of as much as $250,000 for every depend when he’s sentenced.

“No matter wealth, social standing, or fame, our workplace will proceed to hunt out all people who search to abuse youngsters and victimize them by way of the downloading, possession, and sharing of kid pornography,” stated U.S. Legal professional Clay Fowlkes of the western district of Arkansas, which prosecuted the case.

U.S. District Decide Timothy Brooks stated sentencing will occur in about 4 months, Fayetteville TV station KNWA reported.

“We respect the jury’s verdict and we sit up for persevering with this combat on attraction,” stated Justin Gelfand, one among Duggar’s protection attorneys.

Duggar and his giant Arkansas household starred on TLC’s “19 Children and Counting” till the community canceled the present in 2015 following revelations that he had molested 4 of his sisters and a babysitter. Authorities started investigating the abuse in 2006 after receiving a tip from a household pal however concluded that the statute of limitations on any doable expenses had expired.

0:50
Josh Duggar pleads not responsible to receiving, possessing youngster porn

Duggar’s mother and father stated he had confessed to the fondling and apologized. On the time, Duggar apologized publicly for unspecified habits and resigned as a lobbyist for the Household Analysis Council, a conservative Christian group.

Duggar later apologized for a pornography dependancy and for dishonest on his spouse, calling himself “the largest hypocrite ever.”

The choose within the youngster porn case dominated that jurors may hear testimony about how in 2003, Duggar admitted to molesting 4 ladies. A household pal testified that Duggar advised her concerning the abuse.

Federal authorities stated they started investigating after a Little Rock police detective discovered youngster porn recordsdata have been being shared by a pc traced to Duggar. A federal agent testified in Could that pictures depicting the sexual abuse of kids, together with toddlers, have been downloaded in 2019 onto a pc at a automobile dealership Duggar owned.

Duggar’s legal professional argued that another person downloaded or uploaded the pictures onto Duggar’s laptop. However the jury wasn’t swayed.

Duggar’s father Jim Bob Duggar, who additionally starred on the truth present, is operating in a particular election for a vacant state Senate seat in northwestern Arkansas, and the first election in that race is Tuesday. He beforehand served within the Arkansas Home.