Amy Duggar breaks down in tears & begs judge to give ‘MONSTER’ cousin Josh ‘harshest sentence’ in child pornography case

, who she is no longer on speaking terms with, “can’t stop him from going to prison.”

She said: “He’s in for a rude awakening very much so, I don't know how he's feeling. I don't know if he feels like he has a good legal team and maybe it’ll work out for him. Either way, whatever prison he goes to is probably going to feel like a year every single day. He has no idea what’s to come. 

“At this point, I think he’s lost his dang mind. He was privileged growing up. Weren’t we all? We were part of a TV show. You grow up on camera you think, you have perks. I don't think he’s ever really repented and taken responsibility for his actions because he’s never had to until now."

'HE'S A MONSTER'

Amy hasn’t reached out to her cousin and she has no plans to, as she said: “I would not speak to him. I have nothing to say. I have nothing to say. I never knew him. I never knew him. 

“What a terrible life he’s lived and will be living. He’s a monster.”

AMY'S LETTER

But Amy did have something to say to Judge Timothy L. Brooks, who will sentence the father of seven on Wednesday. 

In a letter she read to The Sun, which wasn’t used by the prosecution, she broke down as she begged the judge to not go easy on her cousin. 

She read: “Dear Honorable Judge Brooks, my other family members have written to you with pleads of leniency for my cousin. They want you to consider his good acts instead of his heinous crimes. This is not that kind of letter. 

“I am not interested in providing false character references for Josh as my other family members have so recklessly done. I trust this court doesn't need reminding that godly men of good character don't commit unspeakable crimes against children or that returning this monster to a family with young children without severe long-lasting consequences would surely be a disaster. 

“Offering leniency as his legal team has requested would be an appalling slap in the face to the children already so grievously harmed. The harsh sentence this Court could impose could still never come close for the children hurt by these sinister acts. It upset me greatly to see that no one who chose to provide a character reference for Josh expressed any concern for the victims. None.”

Amy continued: “My cousin and his supporters would like you to believe that this is a victimless crime, but it is not. I want to remind the court that this is not only the victim that has been hurt, but their entire families. 

“Everyone's lives have been altered because of what my cousin has done. As for Josh's character, I am just so grateful that I was protected from my cousin as a child. 20 years isn't enough. I truly believe that he will offend again, and my heart is with the victims and with you Judge Brooks. 

“We are grateful for your wisdom in this matter, please hear us.”

LEARNING TO HEAL

Amy has chosen not to attend the sentencing, as she wants to “protect” her “mind and heart” from the crimes. 

Instead, Amy plans to spend the day with her mother Deanna, who is the sister of Jim Bob, and son Daxton. 

She said: “My day tomorrow, I will be spending it with my son at the zoo. I am going to be so grateful for the life I have and the husband I have. He is so faithful. He is so good to me. I am not going to focus on the other. 

“Josh is going to go away for a really long time. He’s going to go away and he’s going to get the same treatment that he watched those kids get. It’s going to happen, guaranteed.”

PROSECUTION'S FIGHT

The Sun previously reported that prosecutors are demanding the father of seven receive 20 years in prison.

The government wrote in the sentencing memorium: “In consideration of the extraordinary efforts Duggar took to obtain and view child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the nature of the CSAM he obtained and viewed, his efforts to conceal his criminal conduct, and his refusal to take accountability for or acknowledge any of his criminal conduct, the Government recommends the Court impose a guideline term of imprisonment of 240 months.”

'WORST OF THE WORST'

Prosecution then went into the type of child pornography Josh downloaded, calling it “sadistic," "masochistic " and "violent.”

The court papers read: “In fact, the forensic evidence presented at trial included multiple torrent files related to a series of CSAM that has repeatedly been described by law enforcement as being among the worst of the worst.”

Prosecutors claim over 600 images of child pornography were involved in the case, as opposed to Josh’s team arguing there were 127 photos. 

Judge Brooks will decide on the exact number of years based on a range determined by the Federal Sentencing Table that factors in criminal history, age of victims involved in the child sexual abuse material, number of images and more. 

Josh’s legal team begged the judge to be lenient with sentencing. 

The court papers read: “The 34-year-old father of seven who stands before this Court for sentencing has lived an admirable life while navigating unique challenges associated with being in the public spotlight since childhood. 

“Duggar pleaded not guilty and proceeded to trial. He now stands convicted of a serious offense and, as such, this Court must pronounce a sentence. However, in determining the appropriate sentence in this case, Duggar asks this Court to recognize him for the person he is and the person he can become.”

The document continued: “Prior to this case, Duggar had never been charged with, let alone convicted of, a single criminal offense throughout his entire life. In stark contrast, he worked exceptionally hard, has always been fully devoted to his family, and exemplified selfless acts outside of the public spotlight that speak to his true character.

“However, what speaks to Duggar’s true character is that his family remains firmly by his side and they yearn for the day when he can return home to them. His seven children and loving wife are struggling to make do without him but eagerly await the day when he will return to care for them, to love them, and to provide for them.”

Josh's legal team continued: "While the reality that Duggar is going to be sentenced to federal prison is undoubtedly frightening for Duggar himself, it has paralyzed his family with fear.

"Stated simply, any punishment imposed on Duggar is also a punishment imposed on his family."

Josh’s legal team also responded to the government noting a “pattern,” as a 2006 police report claimed Josh molested underage females in the family home, including sisters Jill, 30, and Jessa, 29, who came forward as victims. 

Josh’s attorneys argued: “This cannot possibly be reasonably construed to constitute a 'pattern of activity' sufficient to warrant a significant increase of 5 offense levels.

"And to be clear, it is not only the length of time that transpired between the two alleged incidents; it is also the fact that Duggar was a child at the time of the first alleged incident."

Josh’s wife Anna and mom Michelle wrote letters begging for the judge to be lenient, as they described him as a “loving” and “patient” man. 

SHOCKING TRIAL

The highly-publicized jury trial lasted two weeks before the jury submitted a guilty verdict on both counts. 

At trial, prosecutors presented damning evidence from Josh's HP computer.

It was revealed that one file name found on his HP desktop computer was of a video of a "3-month-old being sexually abused.”

One folder contained 65 thumbnail files of an underage girl. 

The jury was shown the images and videos prosecutors claim were found on his computer.

Prosecutor William Clayman provided alleged texts and photos were taken on Josh’s phone at the car lot to show he was there at the same time child pornography content was downloaded at Wholesale Motorcars.

When the verdict was read, the Counting On alum was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody at Washington County Jail.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).