The Josh Duggar Trial Podcast

On December 9, Josh Duggar was found guilty of two counts of knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography. He is expected to spend at least 20 years in prison and pay up to $250,000 in fines. The prosecution proved that Duggar was at his car lot when the pornography was downloaded. However, the defense argued that police ignored key clues.

Clint Branham, a tech and cybersecurity expert, took the stand during Josh Duggar’s trial. He shut down the defense’s theory that the reality star is not tech-savvy. Branham said he has experience in technology dating back to 2004. While his friends and family have often called him “the tech guy,” he says he’s far more advanced than anyone else.

In addition to Branham, other experts testified. An executive from Covenant Eyes, a company that sells security cameras, told the court that their software can scan an environment and detect suspicious objects. Moreover, a Little Rock, Arkansas detective testified that he’d had to review child pornography online.

A Homeland Security agent also testified about the search of Duggar’s business. Two personal devices were seized. One was a laptop, while the other was a desktop. Prosecutors also showed the jury evidence of a hidden system on the desktop. It was thought that the system could have provided remote access.

During the trial, the prosecution and the defense painted a starkly different portrait of the reality star. The prosecution portrayed him as a sophisticated criminal who either sought depraved content for children, or as a nefarious liar. However, in cross-examinations, the defense argued that the police were sloppy in their investigation. Gelfand asked two witnesses to testify. Bush and Fottrell’s testimony took up a good part of the trial.

At the end of the trial, it appeared that Josh was getting upset. He was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs by U.S. marshals. Anna Duggar was sitting in the front row, watching the proceedings. She did not speak to reporters after the verdict was announced.

After Duggar’s conviction, he was seen getting distraught. It’s not clear whether he’ll appeal his conviction. His case is expected to go to a second trial. Until then, the public can follow the case through SoJo Files podcast. Each episode covers one aspect of the case.