Josh Duggar trial: Family friend claims he admitted touching girls since age 12
Jim Bob Duggar had to take the stand in an Arkansas court on Monday, November 29, in his son Josh's child pornography trial. However, first to testify for the prosecution was Bobye Holt, whose husband, Jim, has been acquainted with Jim Bob ever since the two of them were in the seventh grade. Bobye claimed that the two families were very close friends and have been attending Bible Grace Fellowship together for 10 years. They also went on ski trips. "We loved them," she said, adding, "We loved Josh."
The Holts' oldest daughter and Josh reportedly dated for several months in 2002 and 2003. Their relationship, however, was more emotional than physical, following the family's custom. The families hoped that the two might marry one day. However, on March 30, 2003, the duo stopped seeing each other. Bobye said she remembers the exact date because that is the day she and Jim were called to the Duggars' house and told "what Josh had done."
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Bobye's testimony
Bobye recalled Josh telling her he had touched the four girls. "[Josh] explained that Jane Doe four was sitting on his lap during Bible time and he touched her inappropriately," she said. "He said it happened that day. On that date, he told us that he touched her vaginal area," she continued. She later learnt that Josh touched the girl under her clothes. Josh admitted that he touched three other girls inappropriately in February 2002. Bobye claimed that all the girls were at least three years younger than Josh. As a pattern of behavior, she said, "From when he told me … it started at [age] 12 until March 30, 2003."
Bobye said that Josh had come to live with the Holts in Little Rock in early 2005, and the family had offered to help him unburden himself of any "temptations he wanted to confess." One evening, as Josh sat with Jim and Bobye, he confessed how he touched Jane Doe four in 2003. "When she was sitting on his lap he put his hand under her pantaloons and under her panties," said Bobye. Josh apparently touched the girl outside and also inside her genitals.
Bobye said that in another incident, Josh "said that he went to [one of the girls] as she was sleeping and got up under her blanket to start touching her and she woke up and hit him." The girl then told his parents. "I went to go tell Jim Bob and Michelle but they said they didn't want to hear it," Bobye said, adding, "People began to be aware. … Something else happened in Little Rock that made Josh leave our home."
Jim Bob's testimony
Jim Bob took the stand after Bobye Holt weeks after prosecutors told the judge it had been difficult to serve Josh's father with a subpoena. Jim Bob, however, refused to reveal what his son had told him about the molestation. Jim Bob repeatedly said "I don't remember": "It's been like 18, 19 years ago. … a long time ago."
"We were shocked this had happened," Jim Bob said, "but we were thankful he came on his own and told us." "He had told me that he had touched some of the girls when they were sleeping on their breasts … they didn't wake up," said Jim Bob, adding, "There was, yes, an incident that he told us about … after the first incident."
Jim Bob insisted that Josh "had crossed some line right at that age of curiosity, at 14, your hormones are kicking in." "We did even take Josh to the Arkansas State Police on the recommendation of Jim Holt. … Josh confessed everything to Arkansas State Police." Jim Bob said.
Duggar has been accused of downloading files depicting child sexual abuse on May 14, 15 and 16 of 2019 on the computer at his workplace back then. Josh is now facing one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, Josh may face up to 20 years of imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines on each of the two counts for a total possible sentence of 40 years.