Former actuality TV star Josh Duggar returned to federal court docket on Wednesday, the place a choose sentenced him to 12.5 years in jail for a kid pornography conviction.
Choose Timothy L. Brooks sentenced Duggar to a complete of 151 months behind bars.
Prosecutors have been searching for a most 20-year sentence for Duggar, whereas his attorneys requested that he be despatched to jail for 5 years.
In line with Individuals journal, Duggar’s father, Jim Bob, and spouse, Anna, sat within the court docket’s entrance row as his sentencing was handed down.
In line with the publication, when he wasn’t taking notes on Wednesday Duggar typically turned and smiled at his spouse.
Duggar, whose massive household was the main target of TLC’s actuality present 19 Children and Counting, was convicted of downloading and possessing youngster pornography in December of final 12 months. (On Wednesday, one rely of his December conviction was dropped, and Duggar was sentenced on one cost of knowingly receiving youngster pornography.)
TLC cancelled 19 Children and Counting in 2015 following revelations that he had molested 4 of his sisters and a babysitter. Authorities started investigating the abuse in 2006 after receiving a tip from a household buddy.
Nonetheless, they concluded that the statute of limitations on any doable expenses had expired.
FILE — On this Aug. 2, 2007 file picture, Michelle Duggar, left, poses along with her husband Jim Bob, second from left, and kids, together with their oldest son Josh, tallest standing, after the beginning of her seventeenth youngster in Rogers, Ark.
AP Picture/Beth Corridor, File
Duggar’s mother and father mentioned he had confessed to the fondling and apologized. On the time, Duggar apologized publicly for unspecified behaviour and resigned as a lobbyist for the Household Analysis Council, a conservative Christian group.
Duggar later apologized for a pornography habit and for dishonest on his spouse, calling himself “the most important hypocrite ever.”
The choose within the youngster porn case dominated that jurors may hear testimony about how in 2003, Duggar admitted to molesting 4 ladies. A household buddy testified that Duggar instructed her in regards to the abuse.
Federal authorities mentioned they started investigating after a Little Rock police detective discovered youngster porn information have been being shared by a pc traced to Duggar. A federal agent testified final Might that photos depicting the sexual abuse of kids, together with toddlers, have been downloaded in 2019 onto a pc at a automobile dealership Duggar owned.
Duggar’s lawyer argued that another person downloaded or uploaded the pictures onto Duggar’s laptop. However the jury wasn’t swayed.
Duggar’s father Jim Bob, who additionally starred on the truth present, is operating in a particular election for a vacant state Senate seat in northwestern Arkansas, and the first election in that race is Tuesday. He beforehand served within the Arkansas Home.
Duggar maintains his innocence and has mentioned he’ll enchantment.
— With information from The Related Press
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