The 33-year-old eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggarwas found guilty on Dec. 9, after a nearlytwo-week trial in Arkansasduring which prosecutors presented evidencehe had repeatedly downloaded andviewed child sexual abuse material from a hidden part of his work computer over several days in May 2019.
The19 Kids and Countingalum’s sentencing was scheduled on Tuesday, according to a court docket. He hasbeen held in custodysince his convictions.
Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison or $250,000 in fines. Because of how he was charged, however, he will only technically be sentenced for receipt as the possession crime is considered a lesser included offense.
Josh Duggar.Washington County Sheriff
His attorneys, meanwhile,are in the process of an appealthey had vowed in December to pursue — claiming in court papers that the judge should reverse the guilty verdicts or at the least grant him a new trial.
Duggar’s defense says the prosecution failed to prove their case; they made a similar argument partway through trial, though the judge was not persuaded. The defense further argues that prosecutors violated various rules and requirements and that Duggar was “effectively precluded from calling a necessary witness.”
Federal prosecutors dismissed that in their response.
“His bare bones argument ignores the ample proof beyond any reasonable doubt that [Duggar] repeatedly downloaded and viewed this material on a password-protected partition and that the files had titles indicative of their illegality,” prosecutors said.
Duggar’s conviction split his famous family, many of whom were in attendance throughout the trial. Various relativesspoke out to applaud the verdictafterward and to offer support for sexual abuse victims and child victims.
Duggar’s wife,Anna(with whom he shares seven children), has not commented.
Center, from left: Anna and Josh Duggar (with Josh’s defense team) enter federal court in Fayetteville, Arkansas.Backgrid
Intheir own statement, his parents,Jim BobandMichelle Duggar,said: “This entire ordeal has been very grievous. … Our hearts and prayers are with anyone who has ever been harmed through CSAM [Child Sexual Abuse Material].”
The parents of 19 continued: “In the days ahead, we will do all we can to surround our daughter-in-law Anna and their children with love and support. As parents, we will never stop praying for Joshua, and loving him, as we do all of our children. In each of life’s circumstances, we place our trust in God. He is our source of strength and refuge. Thank you for your prayers.”
source: people.com
