Josh Duggar will reportedly spend even more time behind bars after federal officials added two additional months to his prison sentence, pushing his projected release date to February 2, 2033.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, this marks the third time Josh’s sentence has been extended since he was convicted in 2021 on charges related to child sexual abuse material. His original release date had been scheduled for August 2032 following his 151-month federal sentence.
The latest extension has sparked renewed attention online after Josh’s cousin, Amy Duggar King, claimed on social media that he was once again placed in solitary confinement due to an alleged prison rules violation. Amy suggested the disciplinary issue may have caused him to lose additional “good-time” credit, ultimately extending his sentence.
However, Josh’s attorney, Beau Brindley, disputed claims that the reason behind the extension is fully known. According to Brindley, minor changes to release dates can sometimes be linked to prison programming or administrative issues that are outside of an inmate’s control.
The sentence update comes as Josh continues fighting what appears to be his final legal appeal. His legal team has already faced multiple setbacks after federal courts rejected earlier attempts to overturn his conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court also declined to hear his appeal in 2024.
Now, Josh is pursuing another challenge through the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. In recent filings, his attorneys argued that errors during the original trial justify either a new trial or a complete dismissal of the conviction.
Among the arguments presented are claims that previous defense attorneys failed to investigate another individual who allegedly had access to the computer where illegal material was discovered. The appeal also accuses Department of Justice experts of providing misleading testimony during the trial and argues that old allegations involving Josh and several of his sisters unfairly influenced the jury.
But before the court even considers those claims, prosecutors are questioning whether Josh’s appeal was submitted on time. Federal officials reportedly reviewed prison mail logs and claim there is no record showing the appeal letter was mailed on the date Josh stated.
A judge is now expected to determine whether the appeal will even move forward.
Josh, once known for appearing on the TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting, was convicted after prosecutors argued he repeatedly downloaded and viewed disturbing material involving minors under the age of 12. Following his eventual release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender and remain under supervised probation for 20 years.
