Josh Duggar Scandals: A Timeline Of The Convicted Abuser & His History Of Misconduct

By:

Elissa Anderson

January 2, 2023 2:59PM EST

Josh Duggar has been sentenced to prison for 12.5 years. Click through to look back at the ’19 Kids And Counting’ star’s scandals.

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The Duggars: Photos Of The Family & Their Scandals

The Duggars: Photos Of The Family & Their Scandals — The Duggar family had people talking from the moment their reality show ’19 Kids And Counting’ premiered on TLC in 2008. The supersized brood, who includes dad Jim Bob, mom Michelle, and their dozen-plus kids, initially piqued eyebrows because of their enthusiastic approach to family planning and ultra-conservative values, like a family rule banning the ladies of the family from wearing pants.

The family became embroiled in serious scandal in 2015 when it was revealed that eldest son Josh Duggar had abused 5 girls when he was 14 and 15-years-old. The revelations would lead to the show being canceled, but a spin-off series without Josh would debut later that year in Dec. 2015.

Months after Josh’s history of abuse allegations was revealed, he was caught up in another scandal when the affair website Ashley Madison was hacked. In 2016 he was sued by a former adult film actress and in 2019 he was sued again over a real estate dispute. In Dec. 2021, Josh was convicted for possessing material depicting child abuse. He was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in May of 2022.

Click through to learn about the scandals that rocked the Duggar family through the years.

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Josh Duggar’s Arrest Mugshot (2021)

Josh Duggar’s Arrest Mugshot (2021) — Josh Duggar is seen in his mugshot from the Washington County, Arkansas jail on Apr. 30 2021.

He was arrested by federal agents on Apr. 29, 2021 and charged for possessing material depicting child abuse the next day. He pleaded not guilty on May 5. During the trial, an FBI agent would testify to finding Josh in possession of 65 illegal images, according to Insider. He was released on bond the next day.

After Josh’s arrest, the family released a statement. It read, “We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time. The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious. It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner.”

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Anna Duggar Leaves Court (2021)

Anna Duggar Leaves Court (2021) — Josh’s wife Anna Duggar is solemn as she leaves court today after her husband Josh was found guilty on Dec. 9. After Josh was arrested in April he was mandated to live apart from his children but still allowed to spend time with them while Anna was present.

Josh and Anna welcomed their 7th child amid the scandal in Oct. 2021 and announced her birth the next month. Anna appeared to support her husband at a Nov. 18 hearing, where she held hands with Josh as they left the courthouse.

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Josh Duggar Convicted (2021)

Josh Duggar Convicted (2021) — Josh Duggar smiles in an undated photo provided by the Washington County, Arkansas Detention Center.

The former reality TV star was immediately taken into custody after he was convicted, in federal court of receiving and possessing child abuse materials. He was sentenced to 12.5 years behind bars in May of 2022.

During the trial, the US Attorney’s Office testified that the materials contained images of children under the age of 12 and were in Josh’s possession as early as May 2019, according to Us Weekly.

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Josh Duggar Heads To Jail (2021)

Josh Duggar Heads To Jail (2021) — Josh Duggar is put into a Sheriff’s SUV to be taken away from court to jail after being convicted. It was quite the moment.

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Michelle & Jim Bob’s React (2021)

Michelle & Jim Bob’s React (2021) — The Duggar family visit the ‘Today Show’ and pose for a group photo outside the Olive Garden in Times Square in 2008.

After Josh was found guilty in the 2021 trial his parents offered a statement. “This entire ordeal has been very grievous,” they said. “Today, God’s grace, through the love and prayers of so many, have sustained us. Our hearts and prayers are with anyone who has ever been harmed through [child abuse material}.

I”n the days ahead, we will do all we can to surround our daughter-in-law [Josh’s wife] Anna and their children with love and support. As parents, we will never stop praying for Joshua, and loving him, as we do all of our children. In each of life’s circumstances, we place our trust in God. He is our source of strength and refuge. Thank you for your prayers.”

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Sister Jill & Husband Derick Leave Court (2021)

Sister Jill & Husband Derick Leave Court (2021) — Josh’s sister Jill and husband Derick Dillard arrive at court amid her brother Josh’s trial for possessing materials of child abuse. Derick explained why he was attending to People, saying, “We just wanted to, among other things, see the facts for ourselves. America is the best country to get justice.” Jill had previously revealed in 2013 she was a victim of her brother’s abuse.

The pair would offer a full statement online later, writing, “Today was difficult for our family. Our hearts go out to the victims of child abuse or any kind of exploitation. We are thankful for the hard work of law enforcement, including investigators, forensic analysts, prosecutors, and all others involved who save kids and hold accountable those responsible for their abuse.”

“Josh’s actions have rippled far beyond the epicenter of the offense itself,” the statement later added. “Children have scars, but his family is also suffering the fallout of his actions. Our hearts are sensitive to the pains Josh’s wife, Anna, and their seven children have already endured and will continue to process in the future. This trial has felt more like a funeral than anything else. Josh’s family has a long road ahead. We stand with them, we are praying for them, and we will seek to support them however we can during this dark time.”

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Josh Duggar’s Cheating Comes To Light (2015)

Josh Duggar’s Cheating Comes To Light (2015) — Josh Duggar appears at a pro-life event in Little Rock, Ark in 2014.

A leak of the cheating website Ashley Madison revealed Josh was a user from 2012 to 2015. He called himself a “hypocrite,” after his cheating was revealed.

“I have been the biggest hypocrite ever,” he wrote in a statement on the Duggar family’s official website. “While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction, and I became unfaithful to my wife.”

“I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him. … I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.”

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Michele and Jim Bob React To Cheating (2015)

Michele and Jim Bob React To Cheating (2015) — Michelle and Jim-Bob Duggar at a book signing at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual convention in Washington, DC, America in Feb. 2012.

After Josh admitted to infidelity, his parents released a statement. They said, “When we learned of this late last night our hearts were broken. As we continue to place our trust in God we ask for your prayers for Josh, Anna, our grandchildren, and our entire family.”

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Josh Duggar Abuse Revelations (2015)

Josh Duggar Abuse Revelations (2015) — Josh speaks on stage. The reality star allegedly abused 5 girls when he was 14 and 15, around 2003. The reports wouldn’t become public until unveiled by In Touch magazine in 2015.

A police report claimed that Jim Bob was made aware of the accusations in 2002 but didn’t take the accusations to the authorities until 2006, when one of the victims wrote a letter detailing Josh’s abuse to the parents. Jim Bob did, however, bring the reports to senior members at their church in 2002. They decided Josh should be sent to a Christian treatment program. No charges were ever filed, as authorities explained the statute of limitation had expired.

Josh addressed the allegations in a statement at the time, saying, “I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends.”

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Jessa & Jill Duggar defend their brother (2015)

Jessa & Jill Duggar defend their brother (2015) — After Josh’s history of alleged abuse came to light it was revealed sisters Jil and Jessa, as well as two other sisters and a family babysitter were the alleged victims.

The girls defended their brother in an interview with Megyn Kelly in June 2015, where they tried to “set the record straight.” Jill told Megyn, “We didn’t choose to come out and tell our story. But now that this story has been brought about, we really feel like—as we’ve been seeing these headlines—we feel like, as victims, we have to come out and speak.

“This is something that we chose to do. Nobody asked us to do this. Most of the stuff out there is lies. It’s not true. And so for truth’s sake we want to set the record straight.”

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