Josh Duggar Charged For Possessing Child Pornography, Facing 20 Years In Prison
April 30 2021, Updated 3:04 p.m. ET
Josh Duggar has been charged with two counts of receiving and possessing child pornography following his Thursday arrest in Arkansas.
On Friday, the embattled reality star and oldest of the 19 Kids And Counting brood appeared before U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas Judge Erin Wiedemann via a video call, where he was formally charged.
According to court documents, the 33-year-old father of six (with one on the way) is being accused of downloading child sexual abuse material, some of which allegedly showed children under the age of 12. He is accused of being in possession of such material in May 2019.
If convicted, Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.
The judge ordered Josh to remain in custody at the Washington County jail until his detention hearing on May 5, adding that if bond is granted, he will need to "live in a home without minors."
The U.S. Attorney's Office said Duggar's case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide movement to combat the epidemic of sexual exploitation and abuse of children on the internet.
Duggar was first taken into custody Thursday and placed on a federal hold, with the details surrounding his arrest remaining relatively scarce until Friday.
Shortly after the arrest, though, Josh's younger sister – 29-year-old Jill Duggar Dillard – said, "We just learned this information. It is very sad." Though his wife – 32-year-old Anna Duggar – has not commented on her husband's current legal matters, she did