Josh Duggar Jury Finds Him Guilty in Child Sex Abuse Image Case

Duggar family news reveals that former reality TV star Josh Duggar was convicted by a federal jury in Fayetteville, Arkansas Thursday of downloading child sex abuse images on his work computer. The 33-year-old Duggar is the father of seven children and this is not the first time he has faced scrutiny related to child molestation allegations. In 2015 In Touch magazine reported that he was, “investigated for molesting his four younger sisters and a babysitter.”

Today he was found guilty on one count each of receiving and possessing child pornography. He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count when he’s sentenced at a later date according to NBC News.

His legal team immediately announced that they intend to appeal the verdict. “We appreciate the jury’s lengthy deliberations, we respect the jury’s verdict, and we intend to appeal,” Duggar’s lawyers told NBC News following the verdict.

Duggar Family News – Josh Duggar Found Guilty

Federal prosecutors claimed that Duggar installed a Linux partition on his computer in order to get around computer software that monitors internet use.

Duggar had pleaded not guilty to federal charges of receiving and possessing child pornography in Arkansas in April. But evidence presented in court included, “logs of Duggar’s internet usage, which included downloading the images, sending personal messages, and saving pictures.”

Duggar Family News – The Duggar Family Were Reality TV Stars

Duggar’s lawyers denied the allegations claiming that, “someone else downloaded the images and that Duggar’s own personal devices were clear of any illicit material.” During the trial, Duggar’s family friend Bobye Holt testified under oath that he, “confessed to molesting underage girls during a conversation in 2003, according to NBC affiliate KNWA.”

Holt told the court that Duggar said he had touched multiple girls under their pants and underwear.

Duggar Family News – Josh Duggar’s Lawyers Plan To Appeal

In November Duggar’s defense tried to stop Holt from testifying. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks denied that request and, “ruled to allow evidence of previous molestation allegations against Duggar in the trial. Brooks said in his order that the prior allegations were, “probative of defendant’s sexual interest in underage children.”

Duggar and his parents and siblings were featured in the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting” from 2008 and 2015. The show featured parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children, of which Duggar is the eldest, with the family’s devout Baptist religious beliefs a core part of the show.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with the Duggar family. Come back here often for Duggar family news and updates.