Reality TV's Josh Duggar convicted of child porn possession

An undated photo provided by the Washington County Jail shows Joshua Duggar, who has been convicted of possessing child pornography. Photo / via AP

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar was immediately taken into custody on Thursday (US time) after a federal jury convicted him of downloading and possessing child pornography.

The jury in Fayetteville, about 225 kilometres northwest of Little Rock, found the 33-year-old Duggar guilty on one count each of receiving and possessing child pornography. He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count when he's sentenced.

"Regardless of wealth, social status, or fame, our office will continue to seek out all individuals who seek to abuse children and victimise them through the downloading, possession, and sharing of child pornography," said US Attorney Clay Fowlkes of the western district of Arkansas, which prosecuted the case.

US District Judge Timothy Brooks said sentencing will happen in about four months, Fayetteville TV station KNWA reported.

"We respect the jury's verdict and we look forward to continuing this fight on appeal," said Justin Gelfand, one of Duggar's defense attorneys.

Duggar and his large Arkansas family starred on the reality TV show 19 Kids and Counting until the network cancelled the show in 2015 following revelations that he had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. Authorities began investigating the abuse in 2006 after receiving a tip from a family friend but concluded that the statute of limitations on any possible charges had expired.

Duggar's parents said he had confessed to the fondling and apologised. At the time, Duggar apologised publicly for unspecified behaviour and resigned as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group.

Duggar later apologised for a pornography addiction and for cheating on his wife, calling himself "the biggest hypocrite ever."

#JoshDuggar officially booked in Washington Co Jail. MUG: pic.twitter.com/cKxnqHLcjA

— Samantha Boyd (@samanthaboyd98) December 9, 2021

The judge in the child porn case ruled that jurors could hear testimony about how in 2003, Duggar admitted to molesting four girls. A family friend testified that Duggar told her about the abuse.

Federal authorities said they began investigating after a Little Rock police detective found child porn files were being shared by a computer traced to Duggar. A federal agent testified in May that images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, were downloaded in 2019 onto a computer at a car dealership Duggar owned.

Duggar's attorney argued that someone else downloaded or uploaded the images onto Duggar's computer. But the jury wasn't swayed.

Duggar's father Jim Bob Duggar, who also starred on the reality show, is running in a special election for a vacant state Senate seat in northwestern Arkansas, and the primary election in that race is Tuesday. He previously served in the Arkansas House.

- AP