Reality star sentenced to 12 years in prison over child porn

Josh Duggar, best known for the US reality series 19 Kids and Counting, has received his prison sentence for child porn offences.

Josh Duggar was sentenced on Wednesday to 151 months in prison, which is between 12 and 13 years, for receiving and possessing child porn, according to multiple reports.

The sentence is about eight years less than the 20 years maximum sentence he faced, Page Six reports.

Duggar’s wife, Anna, father Jim Bob, and sister Joy-Anna, were seen supporting him at the courthouse for the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, according to photos obtained by The Sun.

Duggar, 34, was found guilty of the crimes in December 2021 following a six-day trial. The jury deliberated for seven hours.

The former 19 Kids And Counting star was accused of downloading child porn files onto a computer at his now-shuttered used car dealership over the course of three days in May 2019.

In May 2021, a federal agent testified that at least 65 images of child porn were on the Josh’s computer, including a two-minute video that showed a man sexually abusing two girls aged between five and 10.

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Duggar’s mugshot. Picture: AFP

An FBI child exploitation investigator had described the images as “in the top five of the worst of the worst” that he had examined.

The defence argued that someone else downloaded the porn onto the embattled TV star’s work computer and Josh pleaded not guilty.

However, the Department of Justice said a family friend testified during the trial that Josh had discussed downloading software to improve the privacy on his computer, according to The Post. He ultimately installed a password-protected partition on his hard drive that he used to download porn.

Meanwhile, several of Josh’s siblings spoke out in support of his conviction.

Jinger Duggar praised the jury for their decision, writing in part in a lengthy statement on Instagram: “We are saddened for the victims of horrific child abuse. We are also saddened for Josh’s family, his wife and precious children.”

Duggar and his large family found fame in reality TV.

Joy-Anna and her husband, Austin Forsyth, also said they agreed with the guilty verdict.

“We were able to sit through the trial to hear the evidence for ourselves,” they noted in a joint statement on Instagram.

“We agree with the judicial system’s verdict and we are thankful for the men and women who work tirelessly to protect children and help prevent child sexual abuse material.”

Aside from his most recent case, Josh has faced other sex-related crimes in the past. He was previously accused of sexually abusing five underage girls, including sisters Jill, Jessa, Jinger and Joy, while he was a teenager.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission

Originally published as Reality star sentenced to 12 years in prison over child porn