Josh Duggar’s sister and brother-in-law,Jill Duggar DillardandDerick Dillard, have spoken out after the news of his arrest broke this week.
“We just found out this information yesterday,” Jill and Derick said in a statement to PEOPLE. “It is very sad.”
Josh allegedly used the internet to download material of child sexual abuse, “some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12, in May 2019,” according to a press release. If he is convicted, Josh faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 on each count.
Josh, who tuned into the meeting from an Arkansas detention center, will remain in jail as he awaits a bond hearing on May 5.
Jill and Derick’s statement was provided to PEOPLE before the nature of the charges was made public.
The eldest son ofJim BobandMichelle Duggarhas been married to Anna Renee Duggar since 2008. The couple share children Mackynzie, 11, Michael, 9, Marcus, 7, Meredith, 5, Mason, 3, and Maryella, 17 months.
Josh Duggar (L); Jill Duggar Dillard.Kris Connor/Getty Images; Instagram
Days before his arrest, Anna, 32, announced thatthe pair are expecting their seventh child together. She revealed that they’ll be having a girl.
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Listen below to the episode ofour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Dayfor more on Josh Duggar.
Back in 2015,Gawker reported that Josh appeared to have accounts on Ashley Madison, a website that helps individuals engage in extramarital affairs. He eventually admitted to cheating on Anna and said he had an addiction to pornography.
Josh Duggar.courtesy Washington county arkansas
Earlier that same year, Josh issued an apology over a 2006 police report that revealed he was previously investigated for molesting five underage girls. His sistersJessa Seewaldand Jill were among the victims who came forward, butthey claimed to have “moved on” from the situation.
Jill, meanwhile, has had a rocky relationship with her family over the years. Her inability to dictate many aspects of her liferesulted in her and Derick distancing themselves from the famous bunch.
“I never expected this to happen or for it to get to this point,” Jill told PEOPLE in Oct. 2020. “But I’m realizing I can’t put a timeline on healing. I love my family and they love me. I really just have to follow God’s lead and take it one day at a time.”
source: people.com
