Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar release statement after Josh Duggar guilty verdict
JOINING US I'M JAMIE WEI SS AND I'M BRANDON EVANS. WE BEGIN TIGONHT WITH THIS... FORMER 19 KIDS AND COUNTING STAR JOSH DUGR GA -- FOUND GUILTY TODAY IN FEDERAL COURT-- OF RECEIVING AND POSSESSI NG CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY. WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE TONIGHT, BUT WE START WITH 40/29'S KENDALL ASHMAN WHO SAT BEHIND THE DUGGAR FAMILY WHEN THE VERDICT WAS READ ALOUD. KENDALL? DUGGAR AND HIS WIFE WERE IN TEARS THIS MORNING, AS DUGGAR WAS BEING HANDCUFFED INSIDE THE COURTROOM. IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL GOODBYE, AS THEY BOTH SAID "I LOVE YOU" AS DUGGAR WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. LOCAL TO NATIONAL MEDIA - WERE ALL TRYING TO GET A WORD IN WITH DUGGAR'S FAMILY AS THEY LEFT THE COURTHOUSE THIS MORNING. BUT NO COMMENT. WHILE INSIDE THE COURTROOM, THE JURY DELIVERED A HANDWRITTEN UI"GLTY" VERDICT FOR BOTH RECEIPT AND POSSESSION OF CHILD p*rnOGRAPH Y. THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CALLED áTHIS CASE A MILESTONE IN COMBATTING CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY AND CHILD ABUSE. Clay Fowlks, U. .S Attorney's Office law, regardless of their status I society, thr ei wealth, theifamer person is above the la" w. THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND A HALF LONG TRIAL, THE PROSECUTION CALLED SEVERAL WITNESS SETO THE STAND FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, HOMELA ND SECURITY, TO COMPUTER FORENSICS EXPERTS. Clay Fowlks, U.S. Attorney's Office for Western District of Arkansas. "this is work is worth it, it is worth it, because these are the types of cases that help us accomplish our goal in protecting the children in the communities of northwest Arkansas ." LAST WEEK, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS TESTIFIED THAT E TH CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY FOUND ON DUGGAR'S HP COMPUTER WERE DOWNLOADED THROUGH THE DARK WEB IN MAY OF 2019. THEY TESTIFIED THAT THROUGH T HE I-P ADDRESS, THEY TRACED THE DOWNLOADED p*rn BACK TO DUGGAR'S USED CAR LOT BUSINESS. Clay Fowlks,.S. U Attorney's Office for Western District of Arkansas. "children who e ar photographed and videoed in a manner as such of this and every time their videos and photos are traded lineon, uploaded and downloaded on the internet, they're victimized all over again." DURING THE TRIAL, DOZENSF O IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY FOUND ON DUGGAR'S LAPTOP WERE BOTH SHOWN AND DESCRIBED TO THE JURY. AS WELL AS A RECORDI NG BETWEEN DUGG ANDAR SPECIAL AGENTS IN NOVEMBER OF 2019 DUNGRI A SEARCH WARRANT. ALL OF THIS EVIDENCE LEAD UP TO THE JURY'S FINAL DECISION - A "GUILTY" VERDICT. Clay Fowlks, U.S. Attorney's Office for Western District of Arkans as "we are in this fight for the long haul, and we will continue to expend all the resources that are necessary to protect the children in western Arkansas." JURY DELIBERATIONS LASTED SEVERAL HOURS - BEGINNING YESTERDAY AROUND NOON. THE JURY CAME BACK AT 8:30 THIS MORNING AND THE VERDICT WAS DELIVERED JUST AFTER 10 O'CLOCK. IN THE COURTROOM TODAY, WE SAW DUGGAR'S FAMY IL INCLUDING HIS BROTHERS A ND SISTERS, WIFE AND FATH. ER MANY OF THEM WRAPPED THEIR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER IN SUPPORT AFTER THE VERDT IC WAS READ ALOUD -- LIVE IN FAYETTEVIL, LE KENDALL ASHMAN, 4029 NEW S. THANKS KENDALL FOR THOSE DETAILS FROM INSIDE THE COURTROOM WE CONTINUE OUR TE AM COVERAGE NOW WITH EMMA CLAYBROOK AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY JAIL. EMMA WHAT'S XTNE FOR DUGGAR? DUGGAR IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD HERE AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY JAI L. THE U-S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS DUGGAR CAN áNOT BE SE NT TO A FEDERAL PRISON UNTIL HE IS SENTENCED - WHICH SHOULD HAPPEN SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS. THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE MOMENT JOSH DUGGAR WAS BOOKED INTO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY JA IL -AFTER A JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF BOTH RECEIVING AND POSSESSING CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY THIS MORNING. DUGGAR'S ATTORNEYS S AY THEY PLAN TO APPEAL E TH GUILTY VERDICT. THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS ASSOCIATI OONF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS SAYS DUGGAR'S ATTORNEYS COULD APPEAL FOR SEVERAL REASONS. JEFF WANKUM Presiden t, Arkansas Association of Crimin Dalefense Lawyers - "You wanted something into evidence that wasn't allowed toin evidee nc based on arguments that was made in a ruling that was done by the judge? That would be one of the things that you could potential ly do there would have made a difference in the trial. It's just all kinds of th ings, especially over the course of the six day long trial." CABEUSE THE POSSESSION OF CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY COUNT IS A LESS SERIOUS CHARGE TH AN THE RECEIVING COUNT - JUDGE TIMOY THBROOKS SAYS DUGGAR WILL áONLY BE SENTENCED FOR THE RECEIVING OF CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY CHAR. GE BUT THE U-S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS DUGGAR IS STILL FACING A MAXIMUM OF 40 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON. JEFF WANKUM Presiden t, Arkansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - "they're probably just looking at Hey, what is e th more severe one, and whatever that may be, that's gonnae bthe controlling issue r fo whatever the sentence will be. It would be the controlling charge when it came to the sentence that would be imposed, because it's it has the high er severity of punishment. That is there and judge has the discretion to do that." AGAIN - THE U-S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS DUGGAR WILL BE HELD AT A LOCAL JAIL UNTIL SENTENCING BUT THEY CAN'T DISCLOSE THAT LOCATION BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASONS. DUGGAR CAN áNOT BE SENT TO A FEDERAL PRISON UNTIL HE IS SENTENCED...AND THE U-S ATTORN'SEY OFFICE SAYS THAT HE'LL LIKELY BE SENTENCED SOMETIME IN E TH NEXT 90 DAYS. SHWAINGTON COUNTY, EMMA CLAYBROOK, 40/29 NEWS. GREAT REPORTS THERE -- AND VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. FINALLY -- WRAPPING UP OUR COVERAGE OF THE DUGGAR TRIAL TONIGHT, 4029'S LYDIA FIELDER SHOWS US WHAT IT TOOK TO GET TTOO DAY. WE KNOW BETWEEN MAY 14TH AND MAY 16TH, 20-19, CHILD p*rnOGRAPHY WAS DOWNLOADED TO A DESKTOP COMPUTER AT JOSH DUGGAR'S BUSINESS. ONCE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS WERE ME AD AWARE OF THIS, THEY EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRT AN ON HIS BUSINESS - WHOLESALE MOTOR CARS - IN NOVEMBER THAT YEAR. IT WASN'T UNTIL APRIL OF THIS YEAR - 2021 - THAT DUGGAR WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO WASHINGTON COUNTY JAIL - CHARGED WI TH TWO COUNTS OF RECEIVING AND POSSESSING CHILD p*rnOGRAPH Y. THE NEXT DAY, DUGGAR PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN HIS DETENTION HEARING, AND WAS RELEASED ON BOND TO A THIRD- PARTY CUSTODIAN - IN HIS CASE, A FAMILY FRIEND - A FEW DAYSAT LER. DUGGAR'S TRIAL WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULEDO T START IN JULY, BUT IT WAS PUSHED BACK TO NOVEMBER WHEN HIS DEFENSE ATTORY NE ASKED FOR MORE TIME TO REVIEW EVIDENC E. FAST FORWARD TO LAST WEEK, WHEN JURY SELECTIONS BEGAN. AFTER A SIX-DAY TRIAL AND AROUND SIX HOURS OF DELIBERATIONS, THE
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Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar release statement after Josh Duggar guilty verdict
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have shared a statement about their son's conviction on child p*rnography charges.On Thursday, Josh Duggar, 33, was found guilty of downloading and possessing child sex abuse images. His parents called the experience "grievous.""This entire ordeal has been very grievous," their statement read. "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 sex abuse material)."The couple, who starred on TLC's "19 Kids and Counting," continued: "In the days ahead, we will do all we can to surround our daughter-in-law Anna and their children with love and support. As parents, we will never stop praying for Joshua, and loving him, as we do all of our children. In each of life's circ*mstances, we place our trust in God. He is our source of strength and refuge. Thank you for your prayers."Josh Duggar and his wife Anna share seven children.Duggar was hit with federal charges of receiving and possessing child sex abuse images, including of children under the age of 12, in April 2021. He pleaded not guilty.In court, Duggar was convicted of one charge of downloading material, and another charge for possessing it. For each count, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He has not yet been sentenced.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have shared a statement about their son's conviction on child p*rnography charges.
On Thursday, Josh Duggar, 33, was found guilty of downloading and possessing child sex abuse images. His parents called the experience "grievous."
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"This entire ordeal has been very grievous," their statement read. "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 sex abuse material)."
The couple, who starred on TLC's "19 Kids and Counting," continued: "In the days ahead, we will do all we can to surround our daughter-in-law Anna and their children with love and support. As parents, we will never stop praying for Joshua, and loving him, as we do all of our children. In each of life's circ*mstances, we place our trust in God. He is our source of strength and refuge. Thank you for your prayers."
Josh Duggar and his wife Anna share seven children.
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
Duggar was hit with federal charges of receiving and possessing child sex abuse images, including of children under the age of 12, in April 2021. He pleaded not guilty.
In court, Duggar was convicted of one charge of downloading material, and another charge for possessing it. For each count, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He has not yet been sentenced.
