Josh Duggar’s sentencing hearing in his child pornography case has been delayed.
PEOPLE can confirm that Judge Timothy L. Brooks of the Western District of Arkansas Federal Court granted Duggar’s request to push back the hearing for his sentencing, which was originally scheduled for April 5. The 34-year-old’s new date has been set for May 25.
“The defense would benefit from a brief continuance to provide additional time to pursue additional information and documentation,” the document states.
“Additionally, because of certain reasonable COVID-19 precautions understandably instituted at the jail at which Duggar is being detained, it has been more difficult scheduling meetings with Duggar than during more ordinary times,” the record continues. “Finally, while defense counsel can and would be available for the current sentencing date, certain scheduling issues arising out of unrelated cases would be more easily resolved if this Court were to grant the requested continuance.”
Josh Duggar.Washington County Sheriff
Duggar was arrested in April 2021 for receiving and possessing child pornography. In December, he wasfound guiltyon two charges for knowingly obtaining and owning the material. He faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines for the crime.
Fowlkes told PEOPLE that report — including information about the defendant’s past convictions (if any), the level of their offense (on a numerical scale), victim impact and so on — will be issued ahead of the sentencing hearing.
Judge Brooks, who presided over the two-week trial, will ultimately hand down Duggar’s sentence.
At the time of Duggar’s verdict, many of his family members reacted to the news, including his sisterJill (Duggar) Dillardand her husbandDerick Dillard.
“Today wasdifficult for our family. Our hearts go out to the victims of child abuse or any kind of exploitation,” astatement posted on the Dillard family websiteread.
“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,” their joint statement continued. “Nobody is above the law. It applies equally to everybody, no matter your wealth, status, associations, gender, race, or any other factor. Today, the people of the Western District of Arkansas made that clear in their verdict.”
Josh Duggar.Danny Johnston/AP/Shutterstock
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Duggar’s conviction was only the latest in a series of personal scandals that rocked his family: The reality show that first made them all famouswas canceled in 2015after a 2006 police report was released revealing he had been investigated for molesting the four younger girls when he was a boy and teenager.
Later in 2015,Duggar also admittedto having a pornography addiction and being “unfaithful” in his marriage.
A spin-off of19 Kids and Countingthat followed his siblings, calledCounting On,was canceled after his arreston the child pornography charges.
source: people.com
