’19 Kids and Counting’ star Josh Duggar to stand trial for child porn

Image copyright AFP Image caption Duggar has pleaded not guilty to four counts of possessing child pornography

The jury in the child pornography trial of “19 Kids and Counting” star Josh Duggar has begun its deliberations.

The jury was picked at the end of a day-long deliberation over Mr Duggar’s fate. He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of possessing child pornography.

Four counts were dropped in March, a move prosecutors said was done to save the victims in the case.

The case has dominated headlines since it emerged in 2015.

Josh Duggar, 27, is the oldest son of the popular TLC programme’s two stars, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar.

The family rose to fame with their TLC show “19 Kids and Counting”, a reality series about the life of an Arkansas couple.

The show ran from 2008 to 2015. Some of Josh Duggar’s sisters were among the victims in the child pornography case.

The 22-month investigation into Josh Duggar’s behaviour is considered the single largest case of child sexual abuse to hit America’s entertainment industry in recent years.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Michelle Duggar posted the following prayer on social media after the child abuse revelations

Shortly after the initial revelations, Josh Duggar entered a sex-rehab clinic in Illinois to receive treatment for pornography addiction.

He went on to begin reading theology, but it was later announced that he would no longer be pursuing the ministry.

Criminal charges were dropped in March, although four charges were read out in court as a compromise between the prosecution and defence.

The complaints, which were made last year by a teenager, involved episodes from years earlier – and it was those clips, as well as computer evidence collected by the authorities, that were used to bring the case to court.

Including those four charges, Mr Duggar has now been charged with 14 counts of possession of child pornography. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.

Media outlets have reported that Judge Russell Healey has told the jury, “Your job is to find Josh Duggar guilty, not who was wronged.”

The jury will decide on Friday which four of the charges can be admissible in court. They will continue to deliberate on Monday.

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