Josh Duggar’s criminal trial has been delayed.
A federal judge on Tuesday pushed the trial to Nov. 30, according to federal court records. It was originally set to begin on July 6.
In the motion, Gelfand said the defense has hired a computer forensics expert to review the case evidence and needs more time to complete the process.
“The defense has retained an independent computer forensic expert who must conduct a computer forensic examination of each of the devices at issue — a time-consuming process that requires review at a government facility for the one device the Government alleges contained child pornography,” the motion read.
Josh Duggar.Kris Connor/Getty
The prosecution filed a response shortly after suggesting a “reasonable continuance” of about three months to allow for the expert to review the digital evidence, stating that postponing the trial until next year “would result in unnecessary delay.”
In a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Gelfand said: “We are pleased with the Court’s decision and we look forward to continuing to litigate this case.”
Josh Duggar.Danny Johnston/AP/Shutterstock
In April, Duggarpleaded not guiltyto charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.
The19 Kids and Countingalum faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines on each of the two counts if he is convicted,a total possible sentence of 40 years, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Arkansas.
Duggar wasreleased from jailone week after his April arrest. As he awaits trial, he is required to stay withthird party custodians, Lacount and Maria Reber, and is confined to their home via GPS tracking.
He was additionally granted"unlimited contact"with his children - Mackynzie Renée, 11, Michael James, 9, Marcus Anthony, 7, Meredith Grace, 5, Mason Garrett, 3, and Maryella Hope, 17 months - provided that his wifeAnnais present. However, he is not allowed to see any other minor children, including his many nieces and nephews.
Duggar, who prosecutors believe hadmore than 200 images of children on his computer, is no stranger to controversy. In 2015, a 2006 police report that surfaced indicated he was investigated for molesting five underage girls, including sistersJill Duggar DillardandJessa Duggar Seewald. He said at the time that he was “extremely sorry” for the “wrongdoing.”
That same year,Duggar revealed that he cheated on Annaand admitted to struggling with an addiction to pornography afterGawkerreported about his active accounts on Ashley Madison - a website that helps facilitate extramarital affairs.
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Meanwhile, also on Tuesday,news broke that TLC had canceledCounting Onafter 11 seasons.
“TLC will not be producing additional seasons ofCounting On,” the network said in a statement to PEOPLE. “TLC feels it is important to give the Duggar family the opportunity to address their situation privately.”
Counting Onpremiered on TLC in 2015 and served as a spinoff series to19 Kids and Counting, which ran from 2008 to 2015. The spinoff was created amid the molestation controversy surrounding Josh.
source: people.com
