Anna Duggar Stands by Husband Josh Duggar During His Trial
Anna Duggar continues to stand by her husband, Josh Duggar, despite a messy trial and 12-year prison sentence.
Anna Duggar Stands by Husband Josh Duggar During His Trial
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Anna Duggar continues to support her husband, Josh Duggar, the reality TV star from the series, “19 Kids and Counting.”
Josh was arrested for receiving and possessing child pornography on April 29, 2021. He was found guilty of all charges on Dec. 9, 2021, and was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison on May, 25, 2022. His legal team still maintains his innocence, stating that they plan to appeal the verdict.
Despite all of this, wife Anna Duggar continues to stay by his side, appearing at all of his proceedings at the Western District of Arkansas Federal Courthouse in Fayetteville. But how exactly is the mom of seven doing it all on her own now? Let’s take a look at Anna Duggar’s history in the reality TV spotlight.
Anna Duggar Was Homeschooled, Just Like Josh
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Anna was born in her parents' home in South Florida. She once revealed that her parents are very strict, which led her to be homeschooled — something that she and Josh had in common.
She completed high school at the age of 16 and began taking online courses at a Christian college, where she earned a degree in early childhood education.
Anna Joins the Cast of ‘17 Kids and Counting’
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Anna met Josh Duggar at a homeschooling convention in 2006, and they hit it off. Because they both came from big families, they knew what to expect — although the Duggar family is more than double the size of the Keller clan.
Because both families were so strict, their courtship was anything but ordinary. Anna was not allowed to discuss her feelings toward Josh (except privately with her mother). That meant no physical contact until engagement, which was discussed on the “17 Kids and Counting” episode, “Duggar Dating Rules.”
Josh Duggar Proposes
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When Anna turned 20, Josh surprised her with a marriage proposal, and she accepted. The proposal was, of course, featured on the reality show. Anna and Josh were married on Sept. 26, 2008, at Buford Grove Baptist Church in Hilliard, Florida, where they shared their first kiss.
The couple moved to Arkansas where they ran a used-car lot. And less than a year later, the two conceived their first of seven children.
Moral Family Members on Screen
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When “17 Kids and Counting” (followed by 19 Kids) first aired, it featured a huge family with very high and strict morals — but it was all done in a positive way with parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar at the helm.
Little did anyone know what was going on with Josh, the eldest child of the bunch.
Scandals Lead to the Show's Cancellation
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In 2015, news surfaced that Josh had been investigated as a teen for molesting multiple underage girls, including four of his own sisters.
While some of his sisters made statements in support of him, it was too late. TLC canceled “19 Kids and Counting,” and fans were left in shock that such a thing could happen to a strong moral family.
Ashley Madison Problem
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But it didn't stop there. Do you remember the infamous Ashley Madison hack leak? Josh Duggar sure does, as he was one of the first celebrities outed.
Not long after the show's cancellation, Gawker posted evidence that Josh spent about $2,000 on the site in an effort to illicit extramarital affairs.
Josh Duggar’s Arrest and Trial
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Fast forward to April 2021, and Josh was arrested on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. He pleaded not guilty but was later found guilty of both counts.
Even after he serves his 12 years in prison, he will still require supervision from a parole officer for another 20 years and will not be allowed any unsupervised contact with minors, including his children. He is also required to undergo sex offender treatment and is not allowed to access or view pornography of any kind.
Anna Caught in the Middle
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Needless to say, the past several years have been quite tumultuous for Anna, who was caught in the middle between her husband and his family, performing damage control. You see, the family was able to get TLC to do a spinoff of "19 Kids and Counting" for a show called "Counting On." But that show was also canceled in 2021 as a result of Duggar's arrest.
Despite the family drama, Anna made a big statement when she walked hand-in-hand with Josh into court when his trial began in late 2021. Since then, she’s continued to show that she supports him.
Raising 7 Kids on Her Own
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While Josh occupies his life behind bars, Anna has been left to raise their seven children — Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella and Madyson — by herself. This is not an easy task since the kids range in age from just a few months to 12 years.
Fortunately for her, Josh’s parents stepped up, and now Anna is living with her in-laws. Unfortunately, this meant giving up her and Josh's dream home, one they had planned on renovating. They sold it for $350,000, below the asking price.
What’s Next for Anna Duggar
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Where Anna goes from here is anyone’s guess. With kids in tow, she doesn’t have a job, and where she gets her money is unknown. However, we do know one thing — that she plans on honoring her marriage to Josh.
Anna even broke her silence on Instagram, saying, “There is more to this story.”
Stay tuned.