Josh Duggar has asked a federal judge for a new trial or an acquittal following his conviction of receiving and possessing child pornography.
Last week, in asking for the new trial or acquittal, Duggar’s attorneys said that prosecutors did not present evidence that Duggar “knew that the visual depictions were of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” According to Fox News, Lawyers said the prosecution did not show that Duggar downloaded the images or viewed them.
“The evidence elicited at trial does not support a conviction on either count– even in the light most favorable to the government,” the motion from Duggar’s lawyers said.
In December, Duggar was found guilty of one count of receiving and one count of possessing child pornography.
Duggar’s sentencing date has not been set, but he could face up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count.
Federal authorities began investigating Duggar after a police detective found that child porn files were being shared by a computer traced to Duggar. A federal agent testified in court that the images were downloaded in 2019 onto a computer at Duggar’s car dealership.
Duggar’s lawyers said someone else accessed the images and downloaded them to the computer.
Duggar previously starred on the reality show 19 Kids and Counting on TLC until the show was canceled in 2015 after claims that Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter.
Authorities investigated the abuse in 2006, but then decided the statute of limitations on any possible charges had expired.
Duggar’s parents said he confessed and apologized for his actions. He also publicly apologized and resigned from his role as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group.
He later also apologized for a pornography addiction and for having an affair.
Duggar is the oldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children.
Related:
Josh Duggar Convicted of Possessing, Receiving Child Pornography
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Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
