Is Josh Duggar allowed to see his children? Neighbour complains about 'family visit' during house arrest
Josh Duggar has been living in a massive mansion in Elkins, Arkansas after he was put in confinement following his arrest. The disgraced former reality TV star was arrested on charges of receiving and possession of child pornography, following which a judge banned him from being around minors - including his own family. But a neighbor who lives right behind the property recently saw his family visit. Identified as Jason Gemenier, the neighbor, who had previously told the media he was "concerned" with the alleged pedophile living next door to him, saw more than just Josh's pregnant wife Anna and the couple's six kids visit him.
Josh was put in confinement at the home of his parents' friends LaCount and Maria Reber, whom Gemenier called them "nice people". And as the 33-year-old son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar awaits his trial in July, his family allegedly paid him a visit, Gemenier told The Sun. “I believe I saw family visit, yes," he said, adding: "I believe his wife and kids visited. I assume that’s who they were. There were also other people.”
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Can Josh Duggar meet his children?
Following his arrest, Josh has been granted unlimited access to his six children and Anna, 32, provided she is present during the course of the meeting at all times. Josh, who was ordered to wear an ankle monitor at all times, isn't allowed contact with any other minors, including his own siblings and their children. Currently, the conditions of his release from prison restricts him to the Rebers' residence at all times except for "employment, education, religious services, medical or mental health treatment, attorney visits, court-ordered obligations, court hearings or other activities approved by a parole officer," reports The Sun. "Travel is restricted to Western District of Arkansas, Fayetteville Division unless given approval from the US Probation Office. That includes Benton, Washington and Madison counties," they add.
Josh was arrested on April 29, after which speculation has been rife about the family's TLC reality spin-off 'Countin On', considering the parent show '19 Kids and Counting' was canned after a 2011 police report revealed that Josh had fondled the breasts and genitalia of minors as they slept, including his own sisters. Subsequently, he also admitted to porn addiction and confessed he had cheated on his wife Anna, although she has stood by him throughout the years, and at the moment too.
Josh's current living conditions
After canceling the original show, TLC brought the Duggar siblings back in the spinoff 'Counting On', which revolved around the adult siblings sans Josh; he wasn't featured on the show even once. Josh, Anna, and their six children started living in a renovated warehouse on the Duggar property, but after his arrest, he has been confined to the huge acre-sized mansion which brags of four bedrooms and three bathrooms in a one-storeyed landscape. With brick and slab on the exterior and tile and carpeting inside, the mansion also comes with a fireplace and a porch - which The Sun notes are a significant improvement from his former living conditions.
But while Josh's accommodation and hosts have welcomed him, neighbors like Gemenier aren't too happy about his presence around them. "I’m a little concerned, but there is not much I can do about it," Gemienier had previously told The Sun, explaining: "I have a teen daughter so that’s my concern, but she's a strong girl! We’re spread apart. There is a horse pasture in between us. It’s not like we interact. Everyone keeps to themselves.” About the Rebers housing Josh, he said “They told us Josh is staying with them. I found out before they told us but I appreciated them telling us.”
The Rebers were concerned about housing Josh
Josh's current host Maria Reber had her own reservations about having him at home too, revealed his parole officer Diem Nguyen. The couple lives with their son and a 22-year-old daughter who teaches piano lessons to minors from her home. Explaining Maria's concerns, Diem told The Sun "Her concern was she was a woman and Josh was a man and that she felt, she didn’t know how she felt about being alone with him for a long period of time.”
The minors attending piano lessons from Maria's daughter are always accompanied by adults, the officer added.
Josh is expectedly staying in an add-on bedroom in the mansion, where internet is password protected. Despite the restrictions, he still has an ardent supporter in his wife Anna who is "is standing by her husband as she always has," sources tell the outlet. "She even accompanied Josh to Fayetteville so he could turn himself into authorities.” Josh and Anna are maintaining the united front they always have, through the years and through his many perverse scandals. His arrest came just a week after the couple shared a gender reveal video for their soon to be arriving seventh child.