Jury shown images of child porn found on Josh Duggar dealership computer during trial: LIVE UPDATES
Josh Duggar "19 Kids and Counting" fame will stand trial on child pornography charges on Wednesday. Jury selection was completed on Tuesday.
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The prosecution showed the jury images of child pornography found on a computer inside Josh Duggar's dealership during the trial. The images depicted children of different ages, some as young as seven-years-old, according to local outlet 5 News Online.
The prosecution claimed the images were found by agents on a computer at Duggar's car dealership.
The defense questioned how agents were able to track the IP addresses, the outlet reported.
Duggar's defense claimed in court that the images were not downloaded by him.
Wednesday's court session ended as the defense questioned a special agent. His issuance of a search warrant led to the confiscation of two computers and Duggar's cell phone, according to 5 News Online.
The prosecution called its first witness to the stand: Amber Kalmer, a detective in the Little Rock Police Department FBI Task Force Internet Crimes Against Children department.
She explained the technology behind how child sexual abuse images can be shared on the Internet.
Kalmer said on May 14, 2019, she connected an IP address in Springdale, Arkansas with downloading images of child sexual abuse. She also was alerted to the same IP address on May 15 & 16.
The prosecution then showed the jury video and images of the abuse of two young females.
Josh Duggar's child pornography hearing kicked off on Wednesday with an opening statement from prosecutors.
"You're going to see images of children, some as young as seven. These children are being sexually assaulted, violated, and exploited," the prosecution said aloud, according to a Sun reporter in court.
"We ask that you hold him accountable," the prosecution continued after speaking of the charges the former television star is facing.
Duggar has pleaded not guilty to two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography.
Evidence of Josh Duggar's past molestation scandal is allowed to be introduced during his child pornography trial, Judge Timothy L. Brooks ruled on Wednesday.
A court filing obtained by Fox News states that the government's efforts to introduce evidence that Josh committed other acts of child molestation has been granted. Duggar's request for the evidence to be excluded at trial was denied.
"For the reasons stated, the Court finds the evidence the Government seeks to introduce under Rule 414 is both relevant and admissible. Further, the Court finds that the admission of this evidence at trial will not violate Rule 403," the court papers dated and signed by the judge on Dec. 1 state.
"It is therefore ordered that the Government's Motion in Limine to Admit Evidence of the Defendant's Prior Child Molestation Conduct is GRANTED, and Defendant's Motion in Limine to Exclude Evidence of Juvenile Allegations is DENIED."
Two of Josh Duggar’s siblings were included in a list of 28 potential or confirmed witnesses for the former TV star’s child pornography trial announced Tuesday.
Arguments are set to kick off on Wednesday after a nine-hour hearing on Tuesday resulted in the selection of the jury.
Judge Timothy L. Brooks named the 28 potential or confirmed witnesses at Tuesday’s hearing, according to reports. Among them was Duggar’s sister Jill Dillard and brother Jedidiah. It is unclear if Duggar’s siblings will be called by the defense or prosecution, People reports.
The jury consists of 12 jurors and four alternates. They were released from court on Tuesday night and are expected to resume their duties at 8:45 am on Wednesday.
The former "19 Kids and Counting" star is facing two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography. If convicted on all counts, Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count.
Former "19 Kids and Counting" star Josh Duggar is set to stand trial on Tuesday for child pornography charges.
After years of appearing in the reality show, Duggar made headlines in 2015 when news broke that he reportedly molested a number of young girls, including his sisters.
Now, he will face a judge on charges brought against him in April after allegedly possessing images of young children.
Ahead of the trial in Fayetteville, Arkansas, here is everything you need to know:
What are the charges? Who is expected to testify? What will be used as evidence?
Click here to read more on Fox News.
Twelve main jurors and four alternates were selected in the Josh Duggar child pornography trial on Tuesday.
The trial is scheduled to start on Wednesday.
The jurors were asked if they could be impartial to the defendant based on his fame from the reality show "19 Kids and Counting."
“This case has nothing to do with the show," Judge Timothy Brooks said, according to a reporter for The Sun. "It’s important I ask if there is a possibility of exposure to the show that could have shown strong feelings towards Mr Duggar or the family, positive or negative."
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