Josh Duggar Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Child Porn

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar was sentenced May 25 to more than 12 years in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.

Duggar, who was featured for 10 seasons along with his family on the TLC show “19 Kids and Counting,” was convicted by a federal jury in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in December 2021.

Judge Timothy Brooks of the Western District of Arkansas dismissed one of the previous charges without prejudice, ruling that Duggar did not “knowingly distribute” pornography.

Duggar had faced the possibility of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge. His legal team had asked for a five-year sentence, The New York Post reported, claiming in a filing that Duggar has “lived an admirable life while navigating unique challenges associated with being in the public spotlight since childhood.”

The 34-year-old father of seven children with his wife Anna showed no reaction when the sentence of 151 months, or 12 years and seven months, was read, the U.S. Sun reported. His wife and father were in the courtroom for the sentencing.

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In a statement on their website May 26, Josh Duggar’s sister Jill Dillard and her husband Derick said, “The Bible clearly states that God effects justice and vengeance through the governing authorities. Though some believe Josh should have received a greater sentence and still fewer believe he should have received a lighter sentence, God has carried out his vengeance today for his unspeakable criminal activity.”

“It is unfortunate, but it seems that it may take spending over a decade in federal prison, and still more on probation, for Josh to have any potential for rehabilitation to the point he can safely live in society again,” the statement continued. “If for nothing else, the notoriety of this case has hopefully contributed to the deterrence of potential offenders…We continue to love Josh and his family and will be there for them however we can.”

TLC in 2015 canceled the reality show, which featured Duggar’s large Arkansas birth family and their conservative religious lifestyle raising multiple children, following revelations that Josh had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter a decade earlier. The incidents came to light after a family friend came forward saying Duggar had told her about the abuse. 

Jill Dillard said at the time that she was among his victims. 

Duggar’s parents said Josh had confessed to the fondling and apologized and that they had sought help for him. 

Josh Duggar later apologized for a pornography addiction and for cheating on his wife, calling himself “the biggest hypocrite ever.”

He was arrested in April 2021 and charged with two counts pertaining to possessing and receiving child pornography by United States Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security months earlier had raided a car dealership he owned, and a federal agent testified that images depicting sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, were found on a computer there. Duggar’s attorney argued that someone else had downloaded the images.

He was convicted of child porn possession in December. 

Duggar will either serve his time at a prison in Seagoville, Texas, or at a facility in Texarkana, Arkansas, the Post reported.