Entertainment
19 Kids And Counting star Josh Duggar pleads not guilty to child porn charges
Former 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar has pleaded not guilty to child porn charges.
The reality star, 33, was arrested in Arkansas on Thursday before his arraignment saw him accused of allegedly using the internet to download child sexual abuse material.
According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, the former TLC star ‘allegedly possessed this material, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12, in May 2019.’
Duggar is charged with receiving and possessing child pornography. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 (£179,810) on each count.
Duggar is best known for his appearances on 19 Kids And Counting and Counting On and is the eldest child of Michelle and Jim Duggar’s 19 children.
In 2015, it was revealed that Duggar was accused of molesting multiple underage girls when he was 14 and 15-years-old.
#BREAKING #JoshDuggar “Duggar is charged by indictment with receiving and possessing child pornography.” pic.twitter.com/xwijXUYNyN
— Garrett Fergeson (@Garrett_Photo) April 30, 2021
‘Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,’ Duggar said in a statement at the time.
‘I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation.
‘We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.’
In 2019, TMZ reported that Homeland Security officers had been investigating a car dealership where Duggar works and raided his office in connection to a federal probe.
Duggar’s arrest comes just a week after he and his wife, Anna, announced they were expecting their seventh child together.
The couple has been married since 2008 and are parents to six children; Mackynzie Renée, Michael James, Marcus Anthony, Meredith Grace, Mason Garrett and Maryella Hope.
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