The prosecution in Josh Duggar’s trial responded this week to letters of support written by Josh’s wife, mom and others, while also slamming the former TLC star’s request to serve just five years in prison for his crimes of receiving and possessing child sex abuse materials (CSAM).
As The Ashley previously reported, Anna Duggar and Michelle Dugger (and others) recently wrote letters to judge Timothy L. Brooks– -who will be sentencing Josh next week–- begging him to show mercy on Josh by giving the 34-year-old a sentence of five years in prison– the shortest sentence legally allowed.
While Josh is requesting to serve the minimum sentence behind bars, the prosecution is demanding he receive the maximum of 20 years. The prosecution responded to the five- year request this week, criticizing those who penned letters on Josh’s behalf, while arguing many of the claims made in the letters.
“He claims that the writers are ‘extremely supportive while fully aware of his conviction[s],’ and that this ‘will enable him to make the most of the rest of his life and to work hard to ensure that his children’s lives are impacted as little as is possible’ by his trafficking in CSAM,” court documents obtained by The Sun read.
As for Josh (and his supporters) blaming his actions on “challenges” associated with the Duggar family’s 19 Kids and Counting fame, the prosecution believes the claims “only underscore the appropriateness of the Government’s sentencing recommendation.”
“Indeed, his supportive family and public-facing and privileged lifestyle make his pattern of criminal conduct all the more baffling.
“Despite achieving some level of fame through reality television as an adult, he is better known at this point for his behavior outside his family’s show, including his sexual improprieties and criminal sexual conduct,” the prosecution adds.
Another point made in the documents was that, in their letters, Anna, Michelle and Josh’s other acquaintances don’t actually address what Josh was convicted of– or the fact that he has a history of being sexually interested in very young females. Prosecutors argued that none of the Duggars’ letters “meaningfully grapple” with Josh’s crimes, nor his “sexual proclivities toward prepubescent girls.”
The prosecution argues it’s unlikely Josh will ever get the treatment and accountability required to prevent him from reoffending.
“In fact, given the apparent success of his blame tactics with some of the individuals he intends to surround himself with after his release from incarceration, it is not just unlikely– it is unconceivable,” the documents claim.
The prosecution did acknowledge Josh’s time in prison will “undoubtedly reverberate through his immediate and extended family”; however, they note it is unfortunately something that occurs in many criminal cases, and that it is not something that is unique to Josh and his clan.
“ …particularly in cases like this one, where Duggar appears to have hidden his reprehensible conduct from those closest to him up until his conviction.”
On the same day that the prosecution filed its document, the defense filed one of its own, officially responding to the Government’s sentencing recommendation. According to KNWA/KFTA, the filing–- signed by defense attorney Justin Gelfand–- noted a “total lack of support” for the request that Josh be sentenced to the maximum sentence permitted by law, arguing a lack of cases in which a similarly-situated defendant has received a 20-year sentence for receiving CSAM.
The defense called the prosecution’s suggested sentence “excessive, entirely unwarranted, and unprecedented given the alleged crime.”
The defense also claims the Government’s filings have described in great detail some of the CSAM downloaded on Josh’s computer, alleging it was “clearly intended to provoke an emotional response in the hopes that this court will hand down an unnecessarily harsh sentence in this case.”
Instead, the defense argues, the court should focus on what the evidence in the case “actually revealed, even in the light most favorable to the Government for the purposes of sentencing.”
The defense maintained its claim that much of the illegal material was “never on the computer” or “never viewed by any user of the computer.” Documents also stated that the court needs to avoid sentencing disparities, pointing to an individual in another case who received a sentence of 75 months for receiving more than 20,000 images of CSAM.
Josh’s “pattern of activity” cited by the Government was also addressed, with the defense noting Josh never went before a judge, nor was he convicted of any crime as a juvenile– referring to allegations that Josh molested five minors (including four of his little sisters) when he was a teenager.
Josh’s sentencing is set to take place May 25.
RELATED STORY: Amy Duggar Posts Open Letter to Anna Duggar, Begging Her to Leave Felon Husband Josh: “There’s Is No Shame In Divorcing Josh!”
(Photos: Instagram; TLC)
15 Responses
That fact that he got away with molesting his sister’s, should prove he needs to be sent away for life!!! Some of the images on his computer supposedly hadn’t been viewed, means he just hadn’t gotten time to look at them yet. This pathetic excuse for a man, son, brother & father, definitely deserves the maximum sentencing! I wish the court would step in & also make Anna go to counseling for what she’s been thru & the years of unanswered questions her children will be going thru! Society need to quit letting these ppl back on the streets to do it again! Leave them in jail,in cages, like the animals they are!!
Statics aside concerning the high reoffense rate for sexual predators, the blind eyes belonging to his parents and to his wife, speak loudly to the fact Josh is MUCH more likely to re-offend.
His children, both male and female, are at an accelerated risk of being perpetually r a p e d by this monster should he be released before they are too old to be of interest to this pervert. Of course, there is an additional risk to the women and children of family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike.
So let us all pray to whomever we pray to that has not happened already. Because Anna is not going to protect those children.
Chemical castration should be allowed. Punishes him and his dirt bag family and should protect future kids from being victimized and born to him. It’s a win to me.
I’m pretty sure Josh was molested as a child.
I really don’t think Josh will get the max, he will probably get mid-range, 7-15 years.
I hope the judge takes into account that he has not been remorseful. He’s still telling people it was this employee that could have used his computer. And Anna is believing it because it’s easier than believing that her husband is a monster. Her children’s father is monster.
Josh will not be rehabilitated, I hope he gets mandated therapy in prison, but I really don’t think it will help.
His parents failed him when this predilection emerged as a child, his parents refused it get him help, and just force him to do manual labor, because the bible says idle hands are the devil’s playthings.
I’m not surprised that someone who grows up in such a puritanical community, would be curious about things, that are considered forbidden. It’s a story as old as time, literally, it’s the story of Eve in the garden. BUT it doesn’t negate anything, it just means that instead of going to a psychologist and getting these issues worked out of a minor. He turned into a monster.
I mean Josh is clearly a s3x addict, who has to go more taboo to even get turned on now. Ashley Madison, the strippers in PA. Didn’t one of his former bodyguards say he would watch p0rn in the car, while DRIVING? And he didn’t get help then. His wife didn’t get him help then. And now we are here.
I can’t imagine surrounding yourself with the same enablers will actually prevent this from happening again. Or getting even worse. I hope the judge takes into account that there are children involved, and if he reoffends it could happen with his own children.
Josh rejected a ten year plea bargain. I hope the judge takes that into consideration during Josh’s sentencing and he gives him the full sentence.
In my opinion, rejection of the plea agreement, knowing he would likely serve 5-7 of the 10-years, is another testament to Josh’s arrogance. Arrogance fueled by his parents that he is bulletproof because he is a Shepard of God.
I hope he gets at least 18. That gives his last daughter a chance (and those before her) to turn 18 and hopefully live a good life where she y it s not in any fear of being molested.
He’s right. Josh will never be rehabilitated because he has zero accountability from his family. They all (well, most of them, not all) cover up for him. And I’m beyond feeling sorry for Anna, though I see why she has no chance of leaving considering her own father is making up excuses for Josh. I just hope the judge give him the maximum and dies in prison. If he gets out, he’ll do it again or even worse
Josh wont get 20 years…but he won’t get five either. He rejected a plea deal of 10 years, so my best guess is he will get 10-14 years.
I hope the judge sentences him to 20+ years.
HE DID THE CRIME NOW HE NEEDS TO DO THE TIME. IF HE IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER HE CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE AROUND ANY MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN CORRECT? I DON’T CARE HOW MANY KIDS HE HAS OR HOW LOVING A FATHER FIGURE HE IS HE NEEDS TO NOT BE AROUND HIS KIDS,
I agree! He should never be allowed around children under 18 for the remainder of his life. Then he couldn’t be around his own children either!! I’m praying he get the 20 years, so those babies can grow up safe, away from their pathetic excuse for a father!
He has SO much to offer the men in the BIG house, after being a man from a big house. Josh, please spend the next 20 preaching whatever “good word” that keeps you popular with your new friends in there, and if that doesn’t work, give up Michelle’s recipe for that delicious Tator Tot Casserole and enjoy the way they shake hands with child molesters in your new BIG house you bald sweaty pig.
I hope he does every single day of the maximum sentence with no time off for good behavior. 20 years isn’t enough time for this pedophile. I am glad that the prosecutor sees Josh and the Duggar’s for what they are. I disagree with this statement though:
“ …particularly in cases like this one, where Duggar appears to have hidden his reprehensible conduct from those closest to him up until his conviction.”
Josh wasn’t a predator hiding in plain site. Josh molested 5 young girls, three of them were his own sisters. His parents knew about it. His parents did nothing about it. Anna was well aware of this and chose to not only stay married but to bring 7 innocent children in the world who now have a pedophile for their father. They all know, they all shut their eyes tight & pretend that facts are fiction.