Courtesy of Anna Duggar/Instagram
Anna Duggar and Husband Josh Are Still Together Amid the Disgraced TLC Alum’s 12-Year Prison Sentence
Standing by her husband. Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar are still together still together after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was found guilty of two charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.
A jury sealed the disgraced TLC star’s fate on December 9, 2021. After his guilty verdict, Josh was taken into custody at the Washington County Detention Center in Arkansas where he remained until his sentencing hearing. On May 25, 2022, he was sentenced to 151 months — roughly 12.5 years — in prison.
Josh reportedly told his wife that he “loved” her before being taken into custody following the guilty verdict, according to a report from The Sun. He was “teary-eyed” and “solemn.”
Prior to his trial, Anna, 33, took to social media to announce the arrival of her seventh child with Josh, 34.
“Meet little Madyson Lily Duggar! 💝,” she wrote via Instagram in November 2021, noting in her story that their daughter had actually arrived almost one month prior on October 23.
The Florida native, who met Josh in 2006, confirmed that she was expecting another child in April of that year. Shortly after the family shared the news, In Touch confirmed that Josh was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography. On April 30, the former 19 Kids and Counting star pleaded not guilty to one count of each.
Although his wife, who he married in 2008, didn’t publicly address her husband’s legal issues, his parents Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar broke their silence in a statement.
“We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time. The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious,” they wrote on their family blog. “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. We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.”
Anna, who also shares Mackynzie, 12, Michael, 11, Marcus, 8, Meredith, 6, Mason, 4, and Maryella, 2, with Josh, supported her husband during his court hearing five months later. During the September appearance, four motions that were filed by Josh’s attorney, Justin Gelfand, were denied. They included a motion to suppress or dismiss evidence, including a photo that was taken of Josh’s hands when he was in custody at the Washington County jail. The couple were all smiles as they left the courthouse in Arkansas together.
Anna has continued to stand by Josh as she “doesn’t consider divorce an option,” an insider told In Touch in May 2022.
“Some of her relatives want her to, but it goes against everything in her being,” the insider added.
Following his sentencing hearing, a separate source weighed in on whether Anna would move on with someone else while Josh serves out his prison time. “She’s not the type to look for or even consider starting a new life with another man, but there are plenty of upstanding, religious men in the church who would appreciate and take care of a woman like Anna,” the source told In Touch at the time. “There’s a lot of sympathy for her.”
One relative who has been very vocal about her desire to help Anna is Amy King (née Duggar). “You don’t have to be trapped in lies. You don’t have to be trapped. You’re not trapped,” she told In Touch of Josh’s wife. “That’s just fear. That’s just literally fear of like what to do next, you know? And heck, I hope she’s OK. I mean, we have room here for seven kids if we need to. That’s just my heart.”
The pair have dealt with several public scandals over the years. In 2015, reports surfaced that Josh had molested five underage girls, with his sisters Jill Duggar and Jessa Duggar being named at the time. Josh issued an apology for the accusations, which occurred in 2002 when he was a teenager, and he resigned from his position at the Family Research Council.
Later that year, Josh added that he cheated on his wife following a data breach on the Ashley Madison dating site. Josh had two paid subscriptions on the website at the time and he went on to seek treatment at a faith-based facility as a result. Anna and Josh have been open about their decision to see a marriage counselor to help them work on their relationship amid the controversy.
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