Former reality TV star Josh Duggar has been transferred to the Federal Correctional Institute, Seagoville, located outside of Dallas, to begin serving his 151-month prison sentence on child porn charges.
According to court documents, Duggar was also given 20 years of supervised release after his jail sentence, which only permits him to have supervised visits with his 7 children.
His lawyers maintain his innocence and have issued a notice of appeal.
Who is Josh Duggar?
Josh Duggar is a former reality TV star and the elder son of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar. His family is known for being devoted Christians, a theme reflected in their TLC show “19 Kids and Counting,” which was canceled in 2015 after allegations surfaced that Josh had molested 4 of his sisters and a babysitter years earlier. He never faced charges for those allegations.
Josh has been married to his wife, Anna Keller, since 2008.
Overview of Josh Duggar’s case
Little Rock police detectives arrested Josh in April of 2021 after they found child porn files on a computer that they traced to him. Investigators said the images, which depict the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, were downloaded to his computer in 2019. Josh pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In May of 2021, a federal agent testified in court that Josh downloaded and had in his possession more than 60 images of child pornography as well as a 2-minute video that featured girls between the ages of 5 and 10. The agent testified that Josh’s downloads were “some of the worst sexual abuse child pornography” that he had seen in more than 1,000 cases.
Josh Duggar sentencing
Prosecutors asked U.S District Judge Timothy Brooks to give Josh the maximum sentence of 20 years because of what they called a “deep-seated, pervasive, and violent sexual interest in children.”
To support their request for a 20-year prison sentence, prosecutors cited the young ages of the children and the graphic nature of the images, as well as court testimony about the alleged abuse of Josh’s sisters.
Josh Duggar was found guilty of child pornography and possession of child pornography in December of 2021.
On May 25, 2022, U.S District Judge Timothy Brooks sentenced him to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release, during which time he can have no unsupervised contact with minors, including his 7 children. He also received a fine of $10,000.
Why you need an experienced child pornography defense attorney
Being charged with a child pornography crime is an extremely stressful and frightening experience. Your reputation, career and freedom can all be at stake.
If you’re facing child pornography charges in Houston, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced child pornography defense attorney as soon as possible. You need someone by your side who understands the laws around child pornography in Texas. An experienced sex crime criminal defense attorney can evaluate your case and devise the best possible defense to ensure your rights are protected.
