Josh Duggar is asking to get out on bail in his child-pornography case so that he can be with his pregnant wife and family

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Josh Duggar is asking to get out on bail in his child-pornography case so that he can be with his pregnant wife and family
Josh Duggar speaks during the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center on February 28, 2015 in National Harbor, Maryland.Kris Connor/Getty Images
  • The former reality-TV star Josh Duggar is asking to be released on bail.
  • The 33-year-old is charged with possessing and receiving child pornography.
  • Duggar's lawyer asked that he be released to go home to his pregnant wife and his six children.
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Lawyers for Josh Duggar, the 33-year-old former reality-TV star charged with receiving and possessing child pornography, asked that he be released on bail in a court document filed Tuesday.

"Duggar is requesting that this Court permit him to return home to his immediate family during the pendency of this case," his lawyers wrote in the filing. "The residents of his home are his wife (who is pregnant) and their six children."

The lawyers argued that Duggar, who on Friday pleaded not guilty to the charges, does not pose a flight risk or a risk to the community because he has since November 2019 complied with the investigation into him.

A hearing on bail is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas arrested Duggar on Thursday. He is in federal custody.

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Federal prosecutors said in a press release that Duggar was accused of using the internet "to download child sexual abuse material" in 2019. Some of that material involved children under the age of 12, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said he could face 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 if he's convicted.

Several members of Duggar's family, who were featured on the TLC show "19 Kids and Counting," issued statements about the arrest last week.

Josh Duggar is asking to get out on bail in his child-pornography case so that he can be with his pregnant wife and family
The Duggar family in 2007.Beth Hall/AP

"We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time," Duggar's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, said in a statement posted to the Duggar family's website on Friday.

"The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious," they continued. "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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They said that they loved Duggar and his wife, Anna, and that they'd be praying for their family.

Duggar was arrested days after he and Anna announced that they were expecting their seventh child.

Duggar and his family became famous while starring in '19 Kids and Counting,' which TLC canceled in 2015

In 2015, TLC canceled "19 Kids and Counting," the popular show that made Duggar and his family famous, after 15 seasons amid allegations that Duggar had molested four of his younger sisters and a babysitter as a teenager.

The Washington Post reported that Duggar responded to the allegations in a Facebook statement. "Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret," he said, according to The Post. "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. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life."

Months later, Duggar said that he'd cheated on his wife and that he had a pornography addiction. He entered a treatment facility for six months.

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"I have been the biggest hypocrite ever," he said in a statement in August 2015, according to People magazine. He added: "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."

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