Ahead of his child pornography court trial, the judge agrees with the former '19 Kids and Counting' star that his past adult porn addiction is 'irrelevant to the crimes' charges.'
- Nov 18, 2021
AceShowbiz - Josh Duggar scores a small victory in his child pornography case. The former "19 Kids and Counting" star has been granted his request to ban his past confession that he's addicted to adult porn from his child pornography trial, which will be on November 30.
In the newly released court orders obtained by The Sun on Wednesday, November 17, the judge presiding over his criminal case has ruled on several pre-trial motions. The judge sided with him and is barring the government from bringing up the porn addiction admission in court.
The judge said the admission is irrelevant to the crimes' charges and "contract to the Government's position," is "not needed to complete the story," or "provide a total picture of these crimes" to the jury. The court also agreed with Josh that the porn addiction could "mislead" the jury.
"Since some jurors who are morally offended by adult pornography may jump to the conclusion that Defendant must have committed some sort of crime," so read the documents. The court orders added that "other jurors might assume that a person who is addicted to viewing adult pornography is more likely to be interested in viewing child pornography."
Back in 2015, Josh released a statement via social media after he allegedly admitted to fondling the breasts and genitals of the girls. "I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this has become an addiction," he stated.
In the wake of his statement, the Government planned to use it at trial because it allegedly "tends to show his motive, intent, knowledge, or plan to commit the crimes charged." The argument continued, "Therefore, in the Government's estimation, Defendant's admission that he was addicted to adult pornography is a necessary piece of evidence in a chain of events that prove his 'motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, [or] plan' to download child pornography on the HP desktop at work."
Josh, who pleaded not guilty to the two child pornography counts, requested to the court to ban the adult porn addiction and his adultery scandal. At that time, he said that it was "irrelevant" to the charged crime. If convicted, however, he will face years in prison.
His small victory news came after his wife Anna Duggar announced that she secretly gave birth to their 7th child. Alongside a sweet photo of the couple's newest bundle of joy, the 33-year-old mom, who has stood by her man and appeared in court with him, wrote, "Meet little Madyson Lily Duggar!"
