Authorities are calling it the “worst of the worst” child porn case, but reality star Josh Duggar of “19 Kids and Counting” has been granted bail.
On Wednesday, Duggar appeared for a detention hearing at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, following his arrest on child pornography charges. Judge Christy Comstock, who presided over the case, granted bail to Duggar but under strict regulations.
Duggar, who lived in Arkansas with his six children and pregnant wife, must now live with a couple who only have dial-up Internet. The couple, identified as LaCount Reber and his wife Maria by MailOnline, are said to be Christians who are friends with Duggar’s father.
Duggar was ordered to have no contact with his children unless his wife, Anna, is present, according to People.
During the hearing, Homeland Security special agent Gerald Faulkner told the court that the photos on Duggar’s computer were “in the top five of the worst of the worst that I’ve ever had to examine.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Duggar’s computer allegedly contained 65 child porn images and a two-minute video showing a man engaging in sex acts with two young girls between 5 and 10 years of age,. The computer also reportedly had dozens of other images in “unallocated space,” meaning someone had tried to delete them.
Faulkner said the images included naked minors and sex acts with minors, with one file, in particular, showing sex abuse involving children as young as 18 months old.
He also detailed an “accountability” program on Duggar’s computer that’s designed to monitor and report objectionable content to a designated partner.
The program, “Covenant Eyes,” is supposed to help people with porn addictions. It was set up to send reports to Duggar’s wife, Anna. Faulkner said the program was unable to detect Duggar’s activities on the password-protected site he was using.
Duggar’s lawyers argued that he has known about the investigation against him since 2019, when agents searched his now-closed used car business in Arkansas.
“Duggar did not flee the district or the country,” the lawyers wrote. “In stark contrast, he continued to support his wife and six children while residing in this district and, through legal counsel, he maintained an open line of communication with the Government.”
In 2015, Duggar entered into a rehabilitation center 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.”
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 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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[Feature Photo: Josh Duggar/Police Handout]
*Additional reporting by KC Wildmoon*
