Former reality TV star Josh Duggar was jailed in northwest Arkansas on Thursday after his arrest by federal authorities. It was initially unclear what charges he may face, but reports soon emerged that the troubled star has been charged with one count each of receiving and possessing child pornography.
According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Duggar has been accused of “knowingly possessing images of child pornography, including images of minors below the age of 12” and receiving child porn in mid-May 2019.
If convicted, Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 on each count, the outlet reported. The former TLC star reportedly pleaded not guilty on all counts when he appeared before a judge via Zoom at the Western District of Arkansas Federal Court.
Duggar was held at the Washington County jail after being arrested Thursday afternoon by U.S. marshals, according to the jail website. The Marshals Service referred questions to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, which declined to comment.
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Duggar, 33, starred on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting” until it was pulled from the network in 2015 over revelations Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. Duggar’s parents said he had confessed to the fondling and apologized.
Duggar also apologized for a pornography addiction and cheating on his wife that same year. He said at the time that he had been “the biggest hypocrite ever.”
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“While espousing faith and family values, and I became unfaithful to my wife. I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him,” his 2015 statement read.
“I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust. The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings.”
He concluded, “As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose to our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example. I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.”
Duggar will remain in custody until his court hearing on May 5 to determine if he will be granted bail release.
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