Jinger Duggar and her husband have been seen out shopping in Hollywood a day after telling how she was troubled by child porn charges which have been filed against her brother Josh.
Josh, the 33-year-old former 19 Kids and Counting star, pleaded not guilty to federal charges on Friday during a virtual court hearing during which was ordered to live with a third party with no children if he is granted bond.
He is charged with receiving and possessing material depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Jinger, 27, who also goes by her married name Vuolo, and husband Jeremy, 33, were seen with their five-month old daughter Evangeline Jo on Saturday.
The reality TV star dressed casually in a black mask, denim jacket, white blouse and black jeans as she pushed their eldest daughter in a stroller.
Former pro soccer player husband Jeremy wore a colorful sports jacket, LA Dodgers baseball cap and black pants as he playfully lifted their youngest daughter, five-month old Evangeline Jo, into the air.
The couple, who also have daughter Felicity, 2, appeared to be accompanied by a security guard for their jaunt around the Hollywood shopping district.
Jinger Duggar, center, husband Jeremy Vuolo, left, were accompanied by another man as they went shopping in Hollywood on Saturday
Vuolo, 33, wore a colorful sports jacket, LA Dodgers baseball cap and black pants , and playfully lifted their youngest daughter, five-month old Evangeline Jo, into the air
Josh Duggar pleaded not guilty to the federal child porn charges on Friday during a virtual court hearing
The couple reacted swiftly to Duggar’s charges after they were made public Friday.
‘We are disturbed to hear of the charges against Josh. While this case must go through the legal system, we want to make it clear that we absolutely condemn any form of child abuse and fully support the authorities and judicial process in their pursuit of justice,’ the couple wrote in a statement shared to Instagram.
Duggar’s parents and fellow ’19 Kids and Counting’ stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar also issued a statement Friday.
‘We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time. The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious,’ they said in the statement obtained by People magazine. ‘It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner.’
They added: ‘We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.’
Jinger Duggar, right, and Andrew Vuolo, left, met on a missionary trip to Central America in 2015, and were married in November the next year
Vuolo is a former pro soccer player
Vuolo shares a tender moment with his youngest daughter Evangeline Jo, who is five months old
The couple issued a statement condemning child abuse after Josh’s arrest: ‘While this case must go through the legal system, we want to make it clear that we absolutely condemn any form of child abuse’
Speaking to The Sun, Amy, 34, said: ‘At the moment I have no comment to make. I’m kind of speechless, we just hope it’s not true.
‘I spoke with several of my cousins after we heard about the arrest. We’re in shock, but we don’t want to think the worst of someone, you want to think the best.
‘If it is true it would absolutely devastate a lot of people.’
Amy added: ‘Everybody that knows Josh would be devastated. Just thinking about it makes me want to have a glass of wine right now.’
Josh pleaded not guilty to the federal charges on Friday during a virtual court hearing.
Duggar was taken into custody in Springdale, Arkansas a day earlier after turning himself in but the charges were not announced at the time.
According to the indictment, he is alleged to have downloaded child sexual abuse material online in May 2019. Some of the child pornography material he is accused of possessing shows children under the age of 12.
If convicted, Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison.
Prior to the charges being formally announced, a source told The Sun that his wife was ‘standing by’ him and accompanied him to the police station.
His arrest followed a Homeland Security raid on his now-closed car dealership, Wholesale Motorcars, in Springdale, Arkansas back in November 2019. He was not charged at the time.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar said they still loved Josh and were praying for him after his arrest
His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, issued a statement on Friday, saying they were praying for their son and pregnant daughter-in-law.
‘The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious,’ they said.
‘It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner. We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.’
The couple rose to fame on TLC show 19 Kids and Counting which documented their family life in rural Arkansas and raising their kids in a devout Christian Baptist environment.
The arrest marks Duggar’s latest brush with the law after his father, Jim Bob, reported him to police in 2006 for allegedly molesting five young girls over multiple occasions back when he was 14 and 15. It took several years and a tip-off to local police that finally forced Jim Bob to report his son’s behavior to authorities.
Josh’s behavior was first discovered in March of 2002, when one of his youngest sisters went to Jim Bob ‘very upset and crying’. Josh admitted to touching her breasts and genitals while she was sleeping on multiple occasions.
In the report, Jim Bob said Josh was ‘disciplined,’ though didn’t reveal what the discipline entailed.
But there were more incidents to follow after that. And it was revealed that Jim Bob decided to finally go to authorities after an anonymous tip was made to the Arkansas State Police Child Abuse Hotline about Josh’s behavior.
