JOINS US LIVE OUTSIDE THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE WITH THE LATEST ON THE TRIAL. IN THE COURTROOM TOD, AY DUGGAR'S FAMILY, INCLUDING HIS SISTERS AND BROTHERS AND FATHER WERE IN THE COURTROO M. DUGGAR'S FATHER, JIM BOB, RELEASING THIS STATEMENT TO US TODAY INSIDE THE COURTROO M: "WE just want the truth to come out, and we appreciate your prayers for our family." MEANWHILE, THE PRIVATE DIGITAL FORENSICS EXPE, RT O WEWH TOLD YOU ABOUT YESTERDAY, REMAINED ON THE STAND FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE DA Y. SHE TESTIFIED THAT SOMEONE OTHER THAN DUGGAR COULD HAVEEE BN WATCHING THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY REMOTELY THROUGH DUGGAR'S WIFI NETWORK. SHE SAID THEI- WFI NETWORK AT DUGGAR'S WORK WAS EXTREMELY VULNERABLE AND A CYBER ATTACK IS A POSSIBILITY. SHE ALSO TESTIFIED THAT E SH COULD CONFIRM A CYBER ATTACK IF THE ROUTER WAS SEIZED AS EVIDENCE. E SH SAID THAT THROUGH THE ROUTER SHE COULD SEE WHAT DEVICES WERE AESCCSING THE NETWORK DURING MAY OF 2019. DURING THE REBUTTAL E TH PROSECUTION CALLED BACK A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COMPUTER FORENSICS EXPERT WHO HAD CONFLICTING TESTIMONY. HE SAID ROUTERS ARE NOT "CRITICAL" AND TT HA SOMEONE WAS SITTING AT THE H-P COMPUTER WATCHING THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. WN HE THE PRECOSUTION ASKED WHO THEY BELIEVE WAS BEHIND THE COMPUTER, HE SAID "JOSHUA DUGGAR." DUGGAR IS CHARGED WITH BOTH RECEIVING AND POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. IF CONVICTED, HE COULD RECEIVE UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON AND FINES OF UPO T 250,000 DOLLARS FOR EACH COUNT. AGAIN, CLOSING ARGUMENTS WILL BEGIN AT THE FEDEL RA COURTHOUSE AT 9 A.
Former reality TV star Josh Duggar convicted on child porn possession charges
Updated: 11:40 AM EST Dec 9, 2021
A federal jury in Arkansas on Thursday convicted former reality TV star Josh Duggar of downloading and possessing child pornography.The jury of six men and six women began deliberations shortly after noon Wednesday. After a break Wednesday evening, they came back and released their verdict Thursday morning.Duggar was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.Electronic EvidencePolice arrested Duggar earlier this year. Federal prosecutors say he used a torrent service to download images showing the sexual abuse of toddlers and other children onto a computer in May 2019.Both the prosecution and defense called computer experts to the stand. Testimony centered on how certain it was that Duggar was the one who used his work computer to download the child pornography in question.The prosecution used geolocation, timestamps, and text messages to link Duggar to his Springdale car lot at around the same time the child pornography was downloaded.The defense argued that the content could have been downloaded the material remotely or by another person at the car lot.2003 IncidentsThe final prosecution witness called on Monday was Bobye Holt, a family friend of the Duggars. Holt testified about an incident on March 30, 2003, where Duggar allegedly touched the private parts of four juveniles aged 5 to 12.Judge Timothy L. Brooks instructed the jury that Duggar was not on trial for child molestation, but the testimony could be used to help establish a motive for the child pornography charges.Brooks said if the jury was not unanimous in their findings that the incidents described occurred, then they should not use the testimony to help them reach a verdict.Who Is Josh Duggar?Joshua Duggar is the oldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19 children, and was a star on the television show "19 Kids and Counting."Joshua served as executive director of the Family Research Council, and led rallies against LGBTQ rights, including a seven-state "Faith, Family, Freedom" tour.He resigned from the Family Research Council after sexual misconduct allegations made when he was a juvenile were reported. Duggar went into what his family called "long-term rehab."The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A federal jury in Arkansas on Thursday convicted former reality TV star Josh Duggar of downloading and possessing child pornography.
The jury of six men and six women began deliberations shortly after noon Wednesday. After a break Wednesday evening, they came back and released their verdict Thursday morning.
Duggar was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
Electronic Evidence
Police arrested Duggar earlier this year. Federal prosecutors say he used a torrent service to download images showing the sexual abuse of toddlers and other children onto a computer in May 2019.
Both the prosecution and defense called computer experts to the stand. Testimony centered on how certain it was that Duggar was the one who used his work computer to download the child pornography in question.
The prosecution used geolocation, timestamps, and text messages to link Duggar to his Springdale car lot at around the same time the child pornography was downloaded.
The defense argued that the content could have been downloaded the material remotely or by another person at the car lot.
2003 Incidents
The final prosecution witness called on Monday was Bobye Holt, a family friend of the Duggars. Holt testified about an incident on March 30, 2003, where Duggar allegedly touched the private parts of four juveniles aged 5 to 12.
Judge Timothy L. Brooks instructed the jury that Duggar was not on trial for child molestation, but the testimony could be used to help establish a motive for the child pornography charges.
Brooks said if the jury was not unanimous in their findings that the incidents described occurred, then they should not use the testimony to help them reach a verdict.
Who Is Josh Duggar?
Joshua Duggar is the oldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's 19 children, and was a star on the television show "19 Kids and Counting."
Joshua served as executive director of the Family Research Council, and led rallies against LGBTQ rights, including a seven-state "Faith, Family, Freedom" tour.
He resigned from the Family Research Council after sexual misconduct allegations made when he was a juvenile were reported. Duggar went into what his family called "long-term rehab."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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