FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Joshua Duggar, 33, is charged by indictment with receiving and possessing child pornography.
According to court documents, Duggar allegedly used the internet to download child sexual abuse material. Duggar allegedly possessed this material, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12.
Duggar had a first appearance before U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas Judge Erin Wiedemann via Zoom on Friday morning, April 30, 2021.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 on each count. Duggar’s trial date is scheduled for Tuesday, July 6.
Duggar will remain in custody until a May 5th detention hearing. One stipulation Judge Wiedemann requested is for Duggar to have a third-party custodian should he be released on bond. Also, the residence where he would stay must be devoid of minor children.
Duggar was represented by Fayetteville-based Story Law Firm, attorney Travis Story and a second attorney, Justin K. Gelfand.
Gelfand is a former federal prosecutor with experience in criminal tax, financial fraud, and identity theft cases, according to an online search.
The Story and Margulis Gelfand law firms issued a joint statement about the federal indictment:
Josh Duggar has been charged in a two-count indictment. He has pled not guilty to both charges and we intend to defend this case aggressively and thoroughly.
In this country, no one can stop prosecutors from charging a crime. But when you’re accused, you
Justin Gelfand, Travis W. Story and Greg Payne – Counsel for Josh Duggar
can fight back in the courtroom—and that is exactly what Josh intends to do.
The star of the former reality show, “19 Kids and Counting,” was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on Thursday afternoon and booked into the Washington County Detention Center — he was placed on a federal hold with no bail.
The Department of Homeland Security (HSI) is the agency involved in this investigation.
The Duggar family released the following statement on their website:
We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time. 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.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar
In 2015, Danica Dillon claimed Duggar propositioned her in a Philadelphia strip club in March and paid $1,500 “for her company.” Dillon says Duggar then assaulted her while they were having sex. Dillon says she suffered physically and emotionally after the incident and is now being treated for severe anxiety.
On November 19, 2019, HSI confirmed to KNWA/FOX24 were involved in a federal investigation. Agents went to a business at Wildcat Creek Road in Springdale. This location is where Duggar managed a car dealership, Wholesale Motorcars.
Earlier this week, his wife Anna announced on social media that they are expecting their seventh child, a girl.
