FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the trial of former reality TV star Josh Duggar on federal child pornography charges.
Duggar, who appeared on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” was charged in April with two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography.
In May, a federal Homeland Security agent testified that sexually explicit images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers, were downloaded to a computer at an umbrella dealership. car owned by Duggar in May 2019.
Duggar, 33, faces 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per count if convicted.
Duggar has pleaded not guilty in the case and his lawyers have said they plan to defend his case “vigorously and thoroughly.”
TLC included “19 Kids and Counting” in 2015 for revealing that Duggar had sexually abused his four sisters and a babysitter. Duggar’s parents said he had confessed to the assault and apologized.
Duggar also apologized for his porn addiction and for cheating on his wife.
Duggar’s trial began when his father, Jim Bob Duggar, was running in a special election for a vacant state Senate seat in northwest Arkansas. Jim Bob Duggar has also been featured on the TLC program and previously served in the Arkansas House. The primary election for the open seat is December 14.
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