Josh Duggar to Be Released From Prison, But Isn't Allowed Home to His Kids

Josh Duggar is being released from prison amid his child pornography charges.

During a virtual hearing on Wednesday (May 5) at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, Judge Christy Comstock ruled the 33-year-old former 19 Kids and Counting star will be allowed to leave the detention center, People reports.

Josh will be released on Thursday (May 6) to designated third party custodians, Lacount and Maria Reber, who were described in court as “close friends” of the Duggar family. Josh will be confined to their home and monitored with GPS tracking.

The judge also noted she “cannot in good conscience” release Josh back to his home with his pregnant wife Anna and their six kids – Mackynzie, 11, Michael, 9, Marcus, 7, Meredith, 5, Mason, 3, and Maryella, 17 months.

However, Josh has been granted “unlimited contact” with his children, as long as Anna is present. He is not allowed to have any contact with minors, including his nieces and nephews.

“Don’t make me regret this decision,” Judge Comstock warned Josh before adjourning.

News of Josh‘s release comes several hours after Homeland security agent Gerald Faulkner revealed new details in Josh‘s federal investigation.

In his testimony, Agent Faulkner claimed Josh had downloaded files depicting sexual abuse of children ranging from 18 months to 12 years of age back in May 2019. He also said the files was “in the top five of the worst of the worst that I’ve ever had to examine.”

Josh was arrested last week on a count of receipt of child pornography and a count of possession of child pornography. He pled not guilty.

If he is convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each count.