Jana Duggar, US reality star, charged with endangering the welfare of a child
Jana Duggar, whose brother was just found guilty on child pornography charges, denies she endangered the welfare of a child.
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A former reality TV star has reportedly been charged with engendering the welfare of a child.
Jana Duggar, 31, who appeared on the US TLC program 19 Kids and Counting, pleaded not guilty to the charge, issued on September 10, according to court documents obtained by The New York Post.
Duggar’s next court date is scheduled for January 10, a court clerk for the city Elm Springs in Arkansas said this week.
Under Arkansas law, the charge could be considered a “Class A or B misdemeanour” and could result in jail time, a fine or both for Duggar.
News of her charge came just a day after her brother, Josh Duggar, was found guilty on one count each of receiving and possessing child pornography.
The 33-year-old faces up to 20 years behind bars and fines of up to $250,000 (A$350,000) for each count.
At the time of Josh’s April arrest, the Justice Department said that the former TLC star downloaded material that contained children under the age of 12.
Prior to this week’s ruling, Josh had been accused of sexually abusing five underage girls — including four of his sisters — in his teens.
19 Kids and Counting, the TLC reality series that launched the Duggar family, including parents Jim Bob and Michelle and their 19 children, into stardom, was cancelled in 2015 after Josh’s first molestation scandal.
The network eventually rebranded the show, without Josh, as Counting On. However, it was cancelled earlier this year due to the public souring on Duggar programming in general.
Jim Bob, 56, and Michelle, 55, released a statement on Thursday following Josh’s guilty verdict, telling fans that they were “praying” for their disgraced son.
“Today, God’s grace, through the love and prayers of so many, has sustained us,” they wrote.
Acknowledging Josh’s victims, the pair added: “Our hearts and prayers are with anyone who has ever been harmed through CSAM [child sexual abuse material].”
This article originally appeared on Page Six and was reproduced with permission
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