After being convicted of child pornography, Josh Duggar, a former reality TV star, was sentenced Wednesday to 12 1/2 years imprisonment.
Duggar was also found guilty of possessing child pornography. However, U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks vacated that conviction, ruling that it was an included offense under federal law in the receiving child pornography count.
Prosecutors asked U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Brooks for a maximum sentence of 20 years for Duggar. Duggar's large family was the subject of TLC's series "19 Kids and Counting". They argued that Duggar had a "deep-seated and pervasive sexual interest in children."
Duggar was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months imprisonment by the judge, just one day after denial of a defense motion to reverse the guilty verdict for insufficient evidence or to order another trial.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes stated that he was happy with the sentence.
Fowlkes outside the courthouse said, "While this sentence is not the one we requested, it is a long sentence."
Duggar's lawyers requested a five year sentence. Duggar maintains his innocence. Justin Gelfand, the defense attorney, said that he was grateful Brooks refused to impose the maximum 20-year sentence requested.
Gelfand stated that "We'll immediately submit the notice of appeal within 14 days."
After a Little Rock detective discovered that child porn files had been shared by a computer linked to Duggar, Duggar was taken into custody. Investigators said that Duggar downloaded images showing the sexual abuse of children (including toddlers) onto a computer at his car dealership in 2019.
TLC cancelled "19 Kids and Counting," in 2015, following allegations that Duggar had abused four of his sisters and a babysitter many years before. After receiving a tip by a friend, authorities began investigating the abuse in 2006. However, they concluded that there was no statute of limitations for any possible charges.
Duggar's parents claimed that Duggar had admitted to fondling and they were sorry. Duggar publicly apologized for his unspecified behavior after the 2015 allegations surfaced. He also resigned from his position as lobbyist at the Family Research Council (a conservative Christian group).
He publicly apologized months later for his cheating on his wife, and for his pornography addiction. He then sought treatment.
Prosecutors sought a sentence of 20 years. They cited graphic images and the ages involved, as well as court testimony regarding the alleged abuse of Duggar’s sisters.
Federal prosecutors stated in their sentencing memo that Duggar's past behavior "provides a alarming window into his sexual interest in children, which the Court should consider when sentencing."
The court filing stated that Duggar's past behavior, when seen alongside his conviction, "makes clear that Duggar has an underlying, pervasive and violent sexual interest children, and a willingness and ability to act on it."
