Josh Duggar of the hit reality TV show 19 Kids And Counting has been charged with receiving and possessing child pornography.
The 33-year-old pleaded not guilty to the federal charges on Friday during a virtual court hearing during which was ordered to live with a third party with no children if he is granted bond.
Duggar was taken into custody in Springdale, Arkansas a day earlier after turning himself in but the charges were not announced at the time. He is charged with receiving and possessing material depicting the sexual abuse of children.
According to the indictment, he is alleged to have downloaded child sexual abuse material online in May 2019. Some of the child pornography material he is accused of possessing shows children under the age of 12.
If convicted, Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison.
His arrest followed a Homeland Security raid on his now-closed car dealership, Wholesale Motorcars, in Springdale, Arkansas back in November 2019. He was not charged at the time.
His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, issued a statement on Friday, saying they were praying for their son and pregnant daughter-in-law.
Josh Duggar of the hit reality TV show 19 Kids And Counting has been charged with receiving and possessing child pornography
Josh and his wife Anna with their children Mackenzie, 11, Michael, nine, Marcus, seven, Meredith, five, Mason, three, and Maryella, one, in 2019
‘The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious,’ they said.
‘It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner. We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.’
Duggar’s sister, Jinger Vuolo, posted a statement on Instagram: ‘We are disturbed to hear of the charges against Josh.
‘While this case must go through the legal system, we want to make it clear that we absolutely condemn any form of child abuse and fully support the authorities and judicial process in their pursuit of justice.’
The arrest marks Duggar’s latest brush with the law after his father, Jim Bob, reported him to police in 2006 for allegedly molesting five young girls over multiple occasions back when he was 14 and 15.
Four of the girls were his sisters but he was never criminally charged. He spent several months in a Christian rehab facility where he was treated for a sex addiction.
His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, issued a statement on Friday, saying: ‘The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious’
Duggar’s sister, Jinger Vuolo, posted a statement on Instagram saying she was ‘disturbed to hear of the charges against Josh’
His arrest followed a Homeland Security raid on his now-closed car dealership, Wholesale Motorcars, in Springdale, Arkansas back in November 2019. He was not charged at the time
He was sued by a porn star in 2015 for allegedly assaulting her during sex but the lawsuit was later dropped.
Duggar is also currently in the midst of a separate legal battle after a civil lawsuit was filed against him for real estate fraud.
His arrest on the latest charges came just days after he and his wife Anna announced they were expecting their seventh child.
Anna shared the news to Instagram on Saturday with a video of herself and her husband hugging in a field with all six of their kids running toward the camera.
The announcement doubled as a gender reveal as pink confetti came out of a clear umbrella the couple – who are both 33 – was holding over their heads.
Prior to the charges being formally announced, a source told The Sun that his wife was ‘standing by’ him and accompanied him to the police station.
‘Anna is standing by her husband as she always has,’ the source said. ‘Josh and Anna asked the family to pray for them, and said that they love them.’
Duggar and Anna in 2015. His arrest Thursday comes just days after they announced they were expecting their seventh child
The couple’s announcement on Instagram three days earlier that they are expecting another child. ‘It’s a GIRL!!!!!’ the caption for the clip began
Duggar is the eldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children who all shot to fame on the reality series 19 Kids and Counting that followed the devout Baptist family from 2008 to 2015.
The show was axed that year by TLC after allegations emerged that Duggar had molested five young girls.
The allegations emerged in a 2015 InTouch Weekly report that detailed how Jim Bob reported his son to the Arkansas State Police for molesting the victims on multiple occasions back in 2002 when he was aged 14 and 15.
Duggar allegedly touched the girls’ breasts and genitals while they were asleep in their rooms.
According to a 33-page police report of the incident, four of the five underage girls were his sisters.
Jim Bob allegedly learned of it when Duggar confessed to him in 2002.
Duggar was allegedly disciplined at home but the sexual abuse continued into the following year with multiple other incidents, some of which happened when his sisters and a babysitter were awake.
Jim again waited to alert authorities and raised the matter with his church elders first.
Duggar is the eldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children who all shot to fame on the reality series 19 Kids and Counting that followed the devout Baptist family from 2008 to 2015
The Duggar family in 2014. The reality show was axed in 2015 when it emerged father Jim Bob had reported son Josh Duggar to authorities for molesting young girls in 2002. Two of Duggar’s sisters later said they were victims
Duggar was sent to the Institute in Basic Life Principles Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2003 for treatment.
It later emerged that the institute’s founder, Bill Gothard, was accused of sexually harassing or assaulting 34 women in 2014 and resigned shortly afterward.
Duggar’s sisters, Jessa and Jill Duggar, have since claimed they were two of their brother’s alleged victims.
Duggar’s wife Anna and family all stood by him after the sex abuse scandal emerged, with Jessa and Jill saying they had forgiven him.
He also issued a public apology addressing the claims saying: ‘Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends.’
Just months later, Duggar was rocked by another scandal when it was revealed that he had an account on Ashley Madison – the cheating website for married men.
He released yet another statement apologizing for cheating on his wife, saying: ‘I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the Internet and this has become a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.’