The Supreme Court has declined to hear Josh Duggar's appeal of his 2021 child pornography conviction, cementing his 12-year prison sentence until at least 2032.

With the Supreme Court's decision to reject Josh Duggar's appeal, his 12-year prison sentence for child pornography charges remains firmly in place. Duggar, whose case stems from illicit materials traced to a computer at his car dealership, had argued that a former employee might be responsible. However, federal courts ruled against his defense claims, effectively silencing his avenues for appeal and keeping him incarcerated until at least October 2032.

Josh Duggar was convicted in 2021 on charges related to the receipt and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced in May 2022 to 151 months (approximately 12 years) in prison. Duggar is expected to serve his sentence until 2032, after his sentence was extended by two months last year.

Duggar's legal troubles began when federal authorities opened an investigation after Little Rock Police detectives found child sexual abuse material being shared by a computer that was traced back to Duggar. The images were downloaded in 2019 onto a computer located at a car dealership owned by Duggar.

Throughout the trial, Duggar argued that a former employee with a prior sex-offense conviction might have been responsible for downloading the illicit material found on his computer. However, the trial court prohibited Duggar from introducing evidence of the employee's previous conviction unless he could prove that the employee had access to the computer. This decision was upheld by the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals last year.

Duggar contended that this decision deprived him of his right to present a complete defense, which he argued was a violation of his 6th Amendment rights. Duggar's attorneys also asserted that statements he made to investigators during the search of his dealership should not have been permitted at trial, as his attorney was not present. Despite these arguments, the Supreme Court declined to hear Duggar's appeal without providing any comment or noting any dissents.

Following his conviction, Duggar was transferred from the Washington County Jail in Arkansas to FCI Seagoville in Texas, where he is currently incarcerated. Furthermore, he was placed in solitary confinement after allegedly being found with a contraband cellphone. This incident extended his prison sentence, initially set to conclude in August 2032, by an additional two months.

Josh Duggar is married to Anna Duggar, and the couple shares seven children. His legal troubles are not new; allegations against Duggar date back to 2006 when a family friend reported that he had allegedly molested four of his sisters. However, the 2006 investigation concluded without charges because the statute of limitations had expired.

Allegations resurfaced in 2015, contributing to the cancellation of the reality TV show '19 Kids and Counting,' in which Duggar's family starred. During that turbulent period, Duggar apologized for his marital infidelity and pornography addiction and sought treatment in a rehabilitation facility.

The repercussions of Duggar's conviction extend beyond his prison term. His prominence in the media, particularly as a member of the Duggar family, has brought considerable attention to his legal issues. The family's reality show '19 Kids and Counting' garnered significant viewership, making his legal battles a focal point of public interest.