Josh Duggar is sporting a different look behind bars. The disgraced reality TV star was spotted with a new mustache as he was seen for the first time in two years as while serving his 151-month prison sentence on child pornography charges in Dallas, Texas.
Josh, 36, showed off his facial hair after he was spotted exercising in the yard of FCI Seagoville in photos obtained by The U.S. Sun. The 19 Kids and Counting alum wore sunglasses with his all-brown prison uniform for the rare photos.
The outing followed the former TLC personality celebrating his third Thanksgiving behind bars. In Touch exclusively revealed his holiday feast menu, which consisted of roasted turkey and glazed ham. Josh was also offered an array of side dishes, including cornbread dressing with turkey gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and dinner rolls. As for dessert, the inmates were given assorted pies.
In addition, vegetarians had the option of a veggie lasagna that consisted of dirty rice, soybeans and kidney beans.
Josh has been behind bars since his April 2021 arrest on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. “Duggar allegedly possessed this material, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12, in May 2019,” according to a press release shared by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Arkansas at the time.
Prosecutors originally asked for a 20-year prison sentence due to his “prior sexual exploitation of multiple minors” and “the extraordinary efforts Duggar took to obtain and view child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), the nature of the CSAM he obtained and viewed, his efforts to conceal his criminal conduct.”
After a nine-day trial, Josh was found guilty of one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The second charge was ultimately dismissed during his sentencing hearing in May 2022.
The Counting On alum was originally scheduled to be released on August 12, 2032, but his sentence was extended to October 2, 2032, after it was allegedly discovered that he possessed a cell phone and he was moved to the facility’s Special Housing Unit (SHU) in March 2023.
Josh’s legal team has made multiple efforts to appeal his sentence, with his most recent being a petition made to the United States Supreme Court in December 2023.
“Mr. Duggar’s case raises an important question, inter alia, concerning a criminal defendant’s constitutional right to present a complete defense,” Josh’s legal team wrote in the letter obtained by In Touch.
His lawyers stated that they didn’t believe they were given “the time necessary to adequately prepare the petition” and said his defense would “benefit” from more time and consultation with attorneys. The petition was ultimately denied in June.
A source close to Josh exclusively told In Touch on July 10 that he “is out of options” regarding his legal situation, adding that he was considering writing a tell-all book. “He’s blaming everything and everybody except himself for the Supreme Court’s decision not to overturn his child porn conviction,” the insider said.
“He has nothing to lose at this point, and certainly his wife could use the money,” the source says referring to Josh’s wife of 16 years, Anna Duggar, who shares seven kids with him — daughters Mackynzie, Meredith Grace, Maryella Hope and Madyson and sons Michael, Marcus and Mason.
“Finances are a huge issue right now, so a book would mean a big payday for Josh. And no one would be off limits — including this own family,” the insider concluded.