January 1, Reality TV Star Convicted on Child Porn Charges

A federal jury found a former reality TV star guilty on two charges of downloading and possessing child pornography.

Josh Duggar, 33, faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each count. Sentencing is due in about four months.

“Regardless of wealth, social status, or fame, our office will continue to seek out all individuals who seek to abuse children and victimize them through the downloading, possession, and sharing of child pornography,” said prosecutor U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes.

Duggar and his large Arkansas-based family starred on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting until its cancellation in 2015, following revelations that he molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. At the time, Duggar publicly apologized for unspecified behavior and resigned as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks ruled that jurors could hear testimony about how Duggar admitted to molesting four girls in 2003.

Federal authorities said they began their investigation after a Little Rock detective found that child porn files were shared by a computer linked to Duggar. An agent testified that in 2019 they found images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, downloaded onto a computer at a car dealership Duggar owned.

The defense unsuccessfully argued that someone else downloaded the images onto Duggar’s computer.

“We respect the jury’s verdict and we look forward to continuing this fight on appeal,” said Justin Gelfand, one of Duggar’s attorneys.

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Josh Duggar trial verdict finds him guilty on child pornography charges