FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Authorities have arrested former reality TV star Josh Duggar on child pornography charges, federal prosecutors in Arkansas confirmed Friday.
Duggar, 33, best known as one of the 10 sons of “19 Kids and Counting” stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, faces charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. If he’s convicted, Josh Duggar could face as much as 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
In a news release, officials said that, in May 2019, Josh Duggar “allegedly used the internet to download child sexual abuse material.” Prosecutors said the pornographic images included some of victims under the age of 12.
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Duggar pleaded not guilty at a hearing Friday, according to The Associated Press. His attorneys told the AP that they plan to defend his case “aggressively and thoroughly.”
“In this country, no one can stop prosecutors from charging a crime,” the attorneys said in a statement. “But when you’re accused, you can fight back in the courtroom — and that is exactly what Josh intends to do.”
From 2008 to 2014, Josh Duggar appeared in 113 episodes of the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting.” The show was canceled by the network in 2015 after a report from “In Touch” magazine detailed allegations that Josh Duggar had molested several young girls while he was a teenager. In a subsequent interview with Fox News, his parents confirmed he’d told them about the incidents. They also said the victims included four of his sisters and a babysitter.
Josh Duggar previously apologized for having a pornography addiction and for cheating on his wife after reports surfaced in 2015 that he had active accounts on AshleyMadison.com, a site created to help people cheat on their spouses, according to People.
He is expected to appear in court May 5 for a detention hearing, the AP reported.
Cox Media Group
