After a surprising decision from a judge during a virtual court hearing, Josh Duggar was released on bond to await his trial in Arkansas. Duggar was arrested on April 29 for possessing child sexual abuse images, a felony that could put him in prison for up to 40 years with fines up to $250,000.
During the hearing, prosecutors stated that federal investigators found over 200 images depicting child sexual abuse on Josh Duggar’s computer, which was seized by Homeland Security in March 2020. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Gerald Faulkner spoke about the extremely disturbing findings on Josh Duggar’s laptop. He explained that the images, which depicted child sex abuse to children ranging from 18 months to 12 years of age, was “in the top five worst of the worst that I’ve ever had to examine.”
Duggar’s used car lot in Springdale, Arkansas was initially raided by Homeland Security in November 2019, which is where this case began. However, charges were not filed until April 29, 2021. An insider claimed he “turned himself in” without incident. He pled not guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Initally, Duggar was being held without bail. On May 5th, Duggar requested that the court “release him on bail subject to a combination of conditions of release that will reasonably assure his appearance at trial and the safety of the community or any other person,” according to a bond motion obtained by People. The judge allowed him to be released to stay with a family friend. He has unlimited access to his six children as long as his wife, Anna Duggar, is there to supervise. However, he will not be allowed access to any other children, including his many neices and nephews. Many of his siblings have spoken out in shock after Josh Duggar was released, including Jill Duggar, who is now estranged from some of her family, including their parents. It is rumored that their father, Jim Bob Duggar, was the one to bail Josh out of jail.
His trial is set to begin on on July 6, 2021.