Anna Duggar makes a surprising gesture as husband Josh Duggar attends child abuse trial

Publish date: 2024-05-31

Josh has pled not guilty

Anna Duggar walked into court hand-in-hand with her husband Josh on Tuesday for day one of his court trial.

MORE: The Duggars' controversial new photo divides fans

The mom-of-seven and Josh entered the courthouse in Arkansas together, as he pleads not guilty to receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.

WATCH: Jessa Duggar introduces eldest children to little sister Fern for the first time

After a 2019 raid on his Arkansas car dealership, the father-of-seven willingly turned himself in on 29 April 2021.

It was later claimed through court documents that he had “knowingly received child pornography" and "knowingly possessed material that contained images of child pornography,” including “images of minors under the age of 12" in May 2019.

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If convicted, Josh could receive 20 years in prison with fines up to $250,000 on each count.

The trial began with jury selection, and a day prior an evidentiary hearing to discuss Josh's past molestation scandal was attended by Anna, his father Jim Bob Duggar and family friend Bobye Holt.

Anna and Josh walked in hand-in-hand on Tuesday

The defense team has moved to exclude any mention of the accusations from the upcoming trial.

Jim Bob, 56, claimed he couldn't remember the details of Josh's admissions although Bobye, who is married to Jim Holt, an elder in the Duggar's church, recalled that Josh had repeatedly admitted, in 2003 and in 2005, to inappropriately touching four Jane Does over and under their clothes.

In 2015 the scandal led to the cancellation of the family's TLC show It was alleged that between 2002 and 2003, when Josh was a teenager, he molested young girls including several of his sisters.

Josh is a father of seven

Jill and Jessa came forward and claimed to be victims; no charges were ever filed.

Anna and Josh became parents for the seventh time on 23 October; the new mom shared a gorgeous picture of her daughter in November revealing the newborn was born weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and measuring 20 inches.

Anna and Josh are also parents to Mackynzie Renée, 12, Michael James, 10, Marcus Anthony, 8, Meredith Grace, 6, Mason Garrett, 4, and Maryella Hope, who will turn 2 later this month.

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