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May 25 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Arkansas sentenced former reality TV star Josh Duggar to more than 12 years in prison for his child pornography conviction Wednesday. A Fayetteville, Ark., federal jury found him guilty last December of two counts -- sending and receiving child pornography. Prosecutors presented evidence that Duggar set up an elaborate system to view child pornography in an effort not to get caught.
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District Judge Timothy Brooks of the Western District of Arkansas sentenced Duggar on the single count of receiving child pornography since possession of child pornography is considered a lesser charge, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported.
Federal agents seized his personal and business computers in 2019 while following up on a tip.
Duggar, who starred with other family members in the hit TLC series 19 Kids and Counting, was known for his conservative views and at one time served as executive director of the Family Research Council.
A federal technology specialist testified at trial that Duggar had images on his computer of children, some under the age of 10, being sexually abused.
Brooks rejected a motion on Tuesday by Duggar's legal team for an acquittal or a new trial, arguing that there was not enough evidence to prove that he'd actually viewed the pornographic images.
Duggar's reality show was canceled in 2015 after a police report revealed that he'd molested younger girls. He admitted then to having a pornography addiction.
