Former actuality TV star Josh Duggar returned to federal court docket on Wednesday, the place a choose sentenced him to 12.5 years in jail for a kid pornography conviction.
Decide Timothy L. Brooks sentenced Duggar to a complete of 151 months behind bars.
Prosecutors had been looking for a most 20-year sentence for Duggar, whereas his legal professionals requested that he be despatched to jail for 5 years.
In response to Individuals journal, Duggar’s father, Jim Bob, and spouse, Anna, sat within the court docket’s entrance row as his sentencing was handed down.
In response to the publication, when he wasn’t taking notes on Wednesday Duggar usually turned and smiled at his spouse.
Duggar, whose giant household was the main target of TLC’s actuality present 19 Youngsters and Counting, was convicted of downloading and possessing baby pornography in December of final yr. (On Wednesday, one rely of his December conviction was dropped, and Duggar was sentenced on one cost of knowingly receiving baby pornography.)
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Josh Duggar convicted of kid porn prices, faces as much as 20 years in jail
TLC cancelled 19 Youngsters and Counting 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 good friend.
Nonetheless, they concluded that the statute of limitations on any attainable prices had expired.
FILE — On this Aug. 2, 2007 file picture, Michelle Duggar, left, poses together with her husband Jim Bob, second from left, and kids, together with their oldest son Josh, tallest standing, after the delivery of her seventeenth baby in Rogers, Ark.
AP Picture/Beth Corridor, File
Duggar’s mother and father stated he had confessed to the fondling and apologized. On the time, Duggar apologized publicly for unspecified behaviour and resigned as a lobbyist for the Household Analysis Council, a conservative Christian group.
Duggar later apologized for a pornography habit and for dishonest on his spouse, calling himself “the most important hypocrite ever.”
The choose within the baby porn case dominated that jurors may hear testimony about how in 2003, Duggar admitted to molesting 4 ladies. A household good friend testified that Duggar advised her concerning the abuse.
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Federal authorities stated they started investigating after a Little Rock police detective discovered baby porn recordsdata had been being shared by a pc traced to Duggar. A federal agent testified final Could that photos depicting the sexual abuse of youngsters, together with toddlers, had been downloaded in 2019 onto a pc at a automobile dealership Duggar owned.
Duggar’s lawyer argued that another person downloaded or uploaded the pictures onto Duggar’s laptop. However the jury wasn’t swayed.
Duggar’s father Jim Bob, 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.
Duggar maintains his innocence and has stated he’ll attraction.
— With recordsdata from The Related Press
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