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Josh Duggar Requests Court-Appointed Attorney After Child Porn Conviction: ‘Unable to Afford Counsel’

Elise Nelson

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Josh Duggar

Josh Duggar has reportedly requested a court-appointed attorney to help him fight to overturn his 2022 conviction on child pornography charges.

“I am unable to afford counsel due to my current financial circumstances,” the 19 Kids and Counting alum, 37, reportedly wrote in a letter to the judge presiding over his case on Tuesday, May 27, according to court documents obtained by People on Wednesday, May 28.

In his letter, Josh — who is currently serving a 12.5-year sentence at Federal Correctional Institution Seagoville in Dallas, Texas — requested a court-appointed lawyer “to help evaluate” whether there were “constitutional violations” in his case.

“And, if appropriate, prepare a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct my conviction and sentence,” the letter continued, according to the outlet.

The disgraced reality TV personality claimed that his 2021 trial “involved complex constitutional and evidentiary issues, particularly relating to legal rulings and strategic decisions made during trial proceedings” and “errors in the admission of forensic evidence.” He also alleged that the prosecution failed to disclose all of its evidence.

Additionally, Josh cited the “broad publicity” and “intense scrutiny” surrounding the case due to his family’s fame as a result of their TLC reality shows, 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On, and argued that these were reasons for “a full and fair post-conviction review.”

“As time has unfolded, new legal theories and strategies have emerged in public discourse that may be relevant to the Defendant’s case,” the docs concluded, according to the publication. “In light of these developments, the Defendant seeks to consult with counsel to fully evaluate the potential of these emerging strategies and how they may support a motion for relief.”

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GettyImages-1232598573 FAYETTEVILLE, AR - APRIL 29: In this handout photo provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, former television personality on "19 Kids And Counting" Josh Duggar poses for a booking photo after his arrest April 29, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Duggar was reportedly arrested by federal agents and is being detained on a federal hold. (Photo by Washington County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images) Josh Duggar

Josh was arrested in April 2021 on federal charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after Homeland Security agents found child pornography downloaded onto a computer that was linked to the former TLC personality at his business in 2019. He pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence.

In December 2021, Josh was found guilty of one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The latter charge was dropped at his sentencing trial in May 2022.

A federal court denied Josh’s previous appeal in August 2023. He later took his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2024, where it was rejected again that June.

Josh’s request for a court-appointed attorney comes days after a source exclusively told In Touch that he has kept a low profile while serving time at FCI Seagoville.

“He’s pretty quiet and keeps to himself, other than the little hiccup with the cellphone,” a source close to the situation revealed, referring to an incident where Josh was found with a contraband phone and placed in solitary confinement in 2023. “He’s been basically a model prisoner.”

However, the behavior of other prisoners has affected him, a source previously told In Touch exclusively. The insider shared that Josh’s commissary funds were restricted after a staff member at the prison was “pranked.”

“Some sort of chemical convocation spilled on a staff member,” the source said. “We decided to restrict commissary until we figured out what happened or if it came from commissary. We found out who did it, but wanted to wait out the cycle so it fairly affected everyone.”

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