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Josh Duggar Is Seen Smiling In New Mug Shot Less Than An Hour After Child Porn Conviction
Josh Duggar's sister Jill and her husband Derek Dillard said in a statement that they believe "a just verdict" was reached by the jury.
Less than an hour after Josh Duggar was convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography, he was seen smiling in a new mug shot.
Duggar was immediately taken into custody after the guilty verdict was read Thursday, but before he was led away U.S. Marshals let him stop briefly to say goodbye to his wife, Anna Duggar, and dad, Jim Bob Duggar, who had both been in the courtroom, People reports.
Josh appeared visibly distraught while speaking to his wife before he was taken away.
Josh was convicted of one count each of receiving and possessing child sex abuse materials and is now facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.
Prosecutors have said the former “19 Kids and Counting” star downloaded a series of images depicting child pornography onto a computer at the used car dealership where he worked in May of 2019.
Duggar’s attorneys, who have said they plan to appeal the verdict, argued that the images had been downloaded by a “hit and run” hacker who had accessed the system remotely.
After jurors reached their verdict, Josh’s sister, Jill Dillard and her husband Derek, released a statement on their family’s website saying they believed “the jury had reached a just verdict” in the case.
“Today was difficult for our family,” they wrote. “Our hearts go out to the victims of child abuse or any kind of exploitation. We are thankful for the hard work of law enforcement, including investigators, forensic analysts, prosecutors, and all others involved who save kids and hold accountable those responsible for their abuse.”
They added that “nobody is above the law” regardless of their “wealth, status, associations, gender, race or any other factor.”
Derek and Jill—along with other Duggar family members including siblings Justin, Jessa and Joy-Anna, had attended portions of the federal trial, People reports.
“We have been lied to so much that we wanted to hear the evidence for ourselves in court,” Derek and Jill continued. “After seeing all the evidence as it was presented, we believe that the jury reached a just verdict today, consistent with the truth beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The couple described the trial as “more like a funeral than anything else” and said they plan to support Josh’s wife, Anna, in the months ahead.
“Josh’s actions have rippled far beyond the epicenter of the offense itself. Children have scars, but his family is also suffering the fallout of his actions,” they wrote. “Our hearts are sensitive to the pains Josh’s wife, Anna, and their seven children have already endured and will continue to process in the future. This trial has felt more like a funeral than anything else. Josh’s family has a long road ahead. We stand with them, we are praying for them, and we will seek to support them however we can during this dark time.”
Josh’s parents, Michelle and Jim Bob, also broke their silence in a statement, saying they were relying on their faith to help them through the situation.
“This entire ordeal has been very grievous,” they wrote. “Today, God’s grace, through the love and prayers of so many, has sustained us. Our hearts and prayers are with anyone who has ever been harmed through CSAM (child sexual abuse material).”
“In the days ahead, we will do all we can to surround our daughter-in-law Anna and their children with love and support,” they continued. “As parents, we will never stop praying for Joshua, and loving him, as we do all of our children. In each of life’s circumstances, we place our trust in God. He is our source of strength and refuge. Thank you for your prayers.”
Judge Timothy L. Brooks has said Josh’s sentencing is expected to take place in about four months, local station KNWA reports.
