What was Josh Duggar’s final verdict?
BOTH sides have rested in the criminal trial against Josh Duggar.
Duggar was charged in April 2021 on counts of receiving and possessing child pornography, to which he pleaded not guilty, and was ultimately found guilty for both.
What is Josh Duggar's final verdict?
The verdict for Josh Duggar's pornography trial was announced on Thursday, December 9, where he was found guilty of both possessing and receiving child pornography.
His sentencing date was on May 25, 2022.
The Sun can first reveal Arkansas Judge Timothy L. Brooks sentenced Josh, 34, to over 12 years in prison on May 25.
Prosecutors demanded the disgraced star receive the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while Josh’s legal team begged for just five years behind bars ahead of the court hearing.
After the defense rested on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, final arguments in the trial were scheduled for Wednesday, December 8. Following closing arguments was the jury deliberation.
The prosecution rested its case on Monday, December 6, before Duggar's attorneys took the stand.
Forensic computer analyst Michele Bush told Duggar's attorneys the computer where child pornography was downloaded could have been accessed remotely.
The defense argued that someone else may have downloaded or placed the child pornography onto the computer at Duggar's workplace, where police located the files.
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They added that no child pornography was found on Duggar's personal computer or phone.
Bush told prosecutors that her experience as a forensic computer analyst included time as a college student, according to .
After telling the defense that she had testified multiple times in court as an expert witness, Bush admitted under follow-up questioning that the Duggar case "might be" her first federal criminal court case.
What are the charges in the Josh Duggar trial?
Josh Duggar was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography.
Jury selection for the trial began on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
Duggar was featured on the hit TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting, before it was canceled in 2015 following revelations that Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter.
In 2015, Duggar apologized for his pornography addiction and for cheating on his wife, publicly announcing himself as "the biggest hypocrite ever."
In November of 2019, Homeland Security investigated Wholesale Motorcars, Duggar’s place of employment.
At the time, downloads allegedly made on a computer were flagged by the Little Rock Police Department and traced to Duggar's IP address.
Prosecutors have said child pornography was downloaded to a computer at Duggar's workplace in May of 2019.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Gerald Faulkner described the files he found “in the top five of the worst of the worst that I’ve ever had to examine.”
What has been said during the Josh Duggar trial?
On Monday, December 6, a family friend of the Duggars took the stand against Josh Duggar.
Duggar's ex-girlfriend's mother, Bobye Holt, made claims about past accusations that he once molested several young girls, according to an onsite reporter for The Sun.
Speaking to the jury, Bobye said she had visited the Duggar home when Josh Duggar was just 15 years old and alleged that he confessed to touching a five-year-old girl inappropriately at the time.
"We have been friends with the Duggars for 36 years. Our children were best friends," she said to the courtroom.
"Our oldest was Josh's girlfriend in November of 2002. It was formal. They were 14."
Bobye continued: "On March 23, 2003, Mr. Duggar asked us to come over for an important matter.
"They took us to their bedroom. Josh was on the floor."
Holt went on to say her daughter and Duggar were planning on getting married, but the courtship had to end after they learned of the alleged confession.
"Josh went to a facility for troubled youth," she added.
Duggar is now 34 years old and is married to Anna Duggar.
They have seven children together: Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella, and Madyson.
How can I watch Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets?
A new documentary series named Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets is set to be released on June 2, 2023. It can be watched exclusively on Prime Video and will have four parts.
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The docuseries sheds light on Josh's criminal offenses and includes interviews with several Duggar family members.
The exclusive Amazon series also explores the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and how the Duggar's church played a factor in their controversial upbringing.