Josh Duggar, the star of a now-canceled reality show, “19 Kids and Counting,” wants out of jail, and his attorneys say he is not a flight risk.
According to Page Six, Duggar’s lawyers filed a motion at the Western District Court of Arkansas, pushing for Duggar’s release. The attorneys added that Duggar has been always been cooperative with law enforcement, has never been convicted of a crime, and has family ties to Arkansas.
“In that vein, Duggar has a widely-recognizable face and has spent the majority of his life in the public spotlight—making any concern that he is a risk of flight all the more unwarranted,” the attorneys wrote.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Duggar was arrested earlier this month on charges of “knowingly possessed child pornography” by using the Internet to “download child sexual abuse material,”
Duggar’s lawyers argued that he has known about the investigation against him since 2019, when Homeland Security 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.”
A bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, which will decide if Duggar will stay behind bars or be released.
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.”
Last week, Duggar pleaded not guity 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]