Josh Duggar has finally had his day in court, and it was not a good one for him. The judge in charge of his child pornography case has handed down a 151 month (or 12 years) sentence to the disgraced reality star.
Barely holding back her tears, wife Anna Duggar was photographed fleeing the courtroom after learning her spouse and father to her seven children– including 6 month old baby, Madyson– would not be back home for at least a decade.
Anna was not the only one of the famous Duggar clan in attendance at the sentencing after Josh was found guilty of possessing and receiving child pornography. Josh’s siblings Joy Anna and Jason were also photographed entering the courtroom while a second brother, James and patriarch of the Duggar family, Jim-Bob (but not matriarch, Michelle) also watched as Josh begged for leniency, asking for a 60 month sentence at most.
Emotional Anna Duggar Storms Out of Court After Husband Josh is Sentenced to Over a Decade Behind Bars
The judge, who labeled Josh’s criminal activity as “the sickest of the sick” was not swayed by the emotional pleading and, along with the 151 months incarceration, ordered the devout independent Baptist to pay $50,000 in fines.
“You have done some very bad things,” the Judge told Josh, “but in your life as a whole, you’ve done good things…The true test of a man’s character is what a man does when no one is watching.”
Unfortunately for Josh, while people (including judges) were watching, he was busy insisting he was innocent of the heinous charges. To this the judge said, “I find it aggravating about the lack of responsibility.”
After his 12 years have been served, Josh will remain on 20 years’ probation and will not be allowed to visit with his children unsupervised. He is also barred from having a computer or viewing pornography of any kind.
Though Anna was obviously shaken by the thought of raising her large brood of children alone, an insider has spoken to In Touch magazine, telling the publication that both Anna and Josh “weren’t shocked” by the length of the sentence.
“The judge did the right thing, but some are already saying the sentence isn’t long enough,” the insider revealed. “Josh didn’t think he was going to get off, but he, Anna and the family were prepared for a longer prison sentence — not that 12 years isn’t long. It’s bad, but it could have been worse.”
Josh could have received 240 months, or 20 years for owning and distributing the kiddie porn.
“[Anna] is relieved that it’s over,” the insider continued. “Now comes the hard decision, whether to stay and wait for Josh to come out or start her life over without him.”
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