According to federal court judge Timothy L. Brooks, the '19 Kids and Counting' patriarch's testimony is 'not credible,' noting that he 'obviously reluctant to testify against his son.'
- Dec 3, 2021
AceShowbiz - Jim Bob Duggar is being slammed by the judge in Josh Duggar's federal court trial on two child pornography allegations. After giving his testimony, the "19 Kids and Counting" patriarch was accused of lying to protect his son by the court judge.
Federal court judge Timothy L. Brooks said in court documents, "The Court found Mr. Duggar [Jim Bob]'s selective lapse in memory to be not credible." The judge added, "[Jim Bob] was obviously reluctant to testify against his son."
In contrast, Timothy added that longtime family friend Bobye Holt was "very credible" and not subject to clergy privilege. "It is clear from her [Bobye's] testimony -- which the Court found very credible -- that she was not a clergy person at the time [Josh] made certain disclosures to her about molesting children," so said the judge.
Elsewhere in the legal papers, Timothy ruled that the prior allegations of inappropriate touching are "clear and compelling." The judge stated, "The Court finds, based on the Government's proffer of evidence at the hearing, that the prior acts of child molestation allegedly committed by Defendant in 2002 and 2003 against four child victims are clear and compelling."
"The child pornography victims, in this case, are approximately the same ages as the victims of Defendant's hands-on child-molestation offenses," judge Timothy stressed. "Accordingly, the prior act evidence is probative of Defendant's sexual interest in underage children and his propensity for exploiting young girls."
On Monday, November 29, Jim Bob stated that his son told him that he touched girls' breasts when he's 14 years old during a court hearing. "He had told me that he had touched some of the girls when they were sleeping on their breasts … they didn't wake up," said the 56-year-old, who pointed out that he didn't remember what did Josh say at the time. But, he noted that he and his wife Michelle Duggar took action in their home after that and believed Josh had behaved inappropriately.
During the court hearing ahead of Josh's trial, Josh's best friend Bobye also testified on the allegations that Josh touched minors in the early 2000s. "[Josh] explained that Jane Doe four was sitting on his lap during Bible time and he touched her inappropriately," Bobye said. "He said it happened that day. On that date, he told us that he touched her vaginal area." She added, "From when he told me … it started at [age] 12 until March 30, 2003."
