BREAKING: ‘Reality Star’ Josh Duggar arrested by feds for allegedly downloading child porn [Court Docs]

Former reality television star Josh Duggar, of “19 Kids and Counting,” was arrested Thursday by federal agents on child pornography charges.

According to court documents, Josh Duggar “knowingly received child pornography” in May 2019. He also “knowingly possessed child pornography” during the same months by using the Internet to “download child sexual abuse material,” Fox 24 reports.

Josh Duggar Indictment by Leigh Egan

Duggar appeared before U.S. District Court Western District of Arkansas Judge Erin Wiedemann on Friday, via Zoom. Wiedemann ordered Duggar to remain behind bars without bail until his next court date in May.

Wiedemann asked for Duggar to have a third-party custodian, should he eventually get and make bail. A third-party custodian would ensure that Duggar is not around children.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Duggar entered into a rehabilitation center in 2015, after he confessed to inappropriately touching his younger sisters when he was a teenager. He was also accused of creating a private, paid Ashley Madison account, a social site made for people wanting to cheat on their significant other.

“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,” Duggar wrote in 2015.

“I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling.”

FILE — In this Aug. 2, 2007 file photo, Michelle Duggar, left, poses with her husband Jim Bob, second from left, and children, including their oldest son Josh, tallest standing, after the birth of her 17th child in Rogers, Ark. Calling himself “the biggest hypocrite ever,” ex-reality star Josh Duggar has apologized for a “secret addiction” to pornography and for cheating on his wife he said in a statement posted Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, on the family’s website. The statement was apparently spurred by Duggar’s name appearing among millions exposed in a data breach of customers of the Ashley Madison website, an online service that caters to men and women looking to cheat on their spouses. (AP Photo/Beth Hall, File)

He reportedly met up with at least one person he chatted with via his Ashley Madison account and paid her for sex. He later admitted to his infidelity and confessed he had a porn addiction problem.

The allegations resulted in TV network TLC dropping Duggar’s family show. He also lost his position as executive director of the Family Research Council, a lobbying group that “champions marriage and family.”

Duggar pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. If convicted, he could face substantial fines and up to 20 years in prison.

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