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'Very Serious,' Josh Duggar’s Parents Speak Out After His Federal Child Porn Arrest
Josh Duggard's family speak out about his child porn arrest.
The parents of Josh Duggar have spoken out following his arrest on federal child pornography charges.
The former "19 Kids and Counting" star is accused of using “the internet to download child sexual abuse material” and of possessing such items in May 2019, according to an indictment from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Arkansas, obtained by Oxygen.com.
Duggar was arrested on Thursday and he appeared in court on Friday morning, where he pleaded not guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in federal court.
The reality show star's parents released a statement that same day, referencing the matter.
“We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time,” Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar said in a statement, obtained by Us Weekly. “The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious. It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner. We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.”
Josh Duggar’s arrest comes just days after his wife, Anna Duggar, announced on Instagram that they were expecting their seventh child together.
His sister and brother-in-law, Jill Duggar Dillard and Derick Dillard, made their own statement on Thursday.
"We just found out this information yesterday," Jill and Derick said in a statement, provided to PEOPLE. "It is very sad."
The Duggar family starred in the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting." It was canceled in 2015 after it was revealed that Josh had been investigated by police in 2006 for allegedly inappropriately touching five underage girls, including several of his sisters, when he was a teen. Jill came forward as a survivor but has publicly said that she has moved forward. No charges were filed against him because of the statute of limitations.
Josh Duggar was also found to be active on Ashley Madison, a website designed to help people cheat on their spouses, in 2015. He later went to rehab for what he described as sexual addiction.
He is facing up to 20 years behind bars if convicted of the child porn charges. He is being held without bail.
