TRUE CRIMEOfficer Who Reportedly Ignored Josh Duggar Molestation Allegations Released From Prison Following Child Porn Charges
The law enforcement officer who reportedly spoke to Jim Bob Duggar over fifteen years ago about Josh's concerning sexual behavior has been released from prison.
The Duggar family patriarch is said to have contacted Arkansas State Trooper Joseph T. Hutchens around 2005 or 2006 after his then-teenaged son allegedly molested five young girls at their home, including several of his sisters.
Hutchens did not follow up with the Duggars after the shocking allegations — reportedly leaving the family to deal with the issue privately —and was later convicted on child pornography charges of his own in 2007 after he was found with pornographic images of a minor relative on his camera. Although he was released three years later on parole, he was quickly arrested and imprisoned again on similar charges.
Now, Hutchens walked out a free man after only serving a fraction of his initial 60-year prison sentence. He was allegedly approved for parole sometime this week, according to The Sun.
ANNA DUGGAR REPORTEDLY REFUSES TO DIVORCE JOSH DUGGAR AS EMBATTLED REALITY STAR AWAITS SENTENCING
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As OK! previously reported, nearly twenty years after allegedly molesting his sisters, Josh was found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography on Thursday, December 9, 2021, and is awaiting his sentencing in Washington County Jail.
The disgraced reality star's legal team is pushing for a lenient 5-year sentence for the convicted sex offender, insisting similar cases haven't received the maximum punishment.
However, prosecutors claim anything below the maximum sentence will not be enough to keep Josh from committing similar crimes again, specifically because he has so much support from his family, many of whom do not believe he is guilty.
"Despite achieving some level of fame through reality television as an adult, he is better known at this point for his behavior outside his family’s show, including his sexual improprieties and criminal sexual conduct," prosecutors said in a statement. "More importantly, none of [his family's] letters meaningfully grapple with his crimes or his sexual proclivities toward prepubescent girls."
Josh's sentencing will take place on Wednesday, May 25. He faces up to 40 years behind bars.
