Josh Duggar Claiming Others Could’ve Downloaded Criminal Material Is ‘Wishful Speculation,’ Prosecutors Say
Josh Duggar’s arrest in April 2021 shocked Duggar family fans and followers. Federal agents arrested the oldest Duggar family son on suspicion of downloading child sexual abuse material. Now, Counting On fans await the latest Josh Duggar news. And recent court documents note prosecutors called one aspect of Josh’s defense “wishful speculation.”
Josh Duggar’s defense filed several motions and hoped the court would dismiss the case
Josh Duggar’s arrest seemingly has a lot to do with the Duggar family Homeland Security raid from 2019. Federal agents traced the downloads of child sexual abuse material back to the IP address of Josh’s workplace, Wholesale Motorcars. Upon Josh’s arrest, federal agents confiscated a number of the electronics he had at his workplace. They took his laptop, his phone, and his work computer.
Since the initial arrest, Josh’s legal team put forth four motions in the hopes of the courts dismissing evidence. The defense also attempted to get the case dismissed completely. According to KNWA Fox24, the motions were in an attempt to “suppress statements” made by Josh, to “suppress photographs” of Josh’s hands and feet, and to dismiss the case due to “Government’s failure to preserve potentially exculpatory evidence,” just to name a few.
The court denied all of the motions, which certainly doesn’t work in Josh’s favor. Josh Duggar’s wife, Anna Duggar, also appeared in court alongside Josh, seemingly to mortally support him.
The prosecution called this aspect of the defense’s case ‘wishful speculation’
Recent court documents from the prosecution discuss a possible point for Josh Duggar’s defense. The prosecution notes they expect the defense to state others in Josh’s workplace could’ve been the ones to download the illegal material. But it seems the defense won’t allow this explanation to stand.
“At trial, the Government anticipates that the defendant will attempt to introduce evidence suggesting that other individuals had access to the HP desktop computer at issue and therefore could have committed the offenses charged in the indictment,” the statement reads. “Any such evidence is nothing more than wishful speculation based on bare suspicion, which is inadmissible under the legal precedent cited herein.”
The document also states three witnesses the defense noted also had access to Wholesale Motorcars and could’ve possibly downloaded child sexual abuse material onto the computers. But the rest of the document from the prosecution seems to rule the three witnesses out.
Did Josh Duggar take a guilty plea? Will he go to trial?
What’s next for the oldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar? Did Josh Duggar take a guilty plea to possibly lighten his sentence?
It doesn’t sound as if Josh took a guilty plea. While a plea deal may have given him a lighter sentence, it requires him to admit guilt. It doesn’t seem as if Josh and his defense are prepared to do that. In a more likely scenario, Josh will head to trial, though some Duggar family critics thought Jim Bob Duggar would surely insist Josh take a plea deal if the courts offered one.
Josh Duggar’s trial is currently set for Nov. 30, 2021.
How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.
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