JOSH Duggar is jailed where an inmate was killed in a violent prisoner-on-prisoner murder less than two years ago, as experts warn the child porn charges could make him a “target for attacks,” The Celeb Report can exclusively reveal.
Josh, 33, has been detained at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas after he was charged with two counts of child pornography.
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In August 2019, murder defendant Dekota Harvey strangled cellmate Luis Cobos-Cenobio to death at the jail after asking to be moved to the victim’s cell.
Dekota had asked to be moved away from his block in the detention center, claiming he was afraid for his life because other detainees were aware he had been charged with shooting dead a 20-year-old woman and attempting to kill his 21-year-old ex-girlfriend.
The killer, then 22, was found in the early hours the following morning by a detention deputy waiting by his new cell door while Luis was on his back by their bunk bed.
Dekota admitted to the deputy that he had killed Luis, but claimed the victim wanted him to do it.
In March of this year, Dekota pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder and one count of attempted murder.
He was sentenced to life without possibility of parole.
Prison experts said that due to the child pornography charges against the former 19 Kids and Counting star and the fact he is a celebrity, dad-of-six Josh is at high risk of being targeted by other inmates behind bars.
Justin Paperny, the co-founder of sentence mitigation service Prison Professors, exclusively told The Celeb Report: “In my experience, people accused of child sex crimes are ostracized in prison both by staff and other inmates, more than any other prisoners, including those who have cooperated extensively.
“It is harder for Josh Duggar because he is a celebrity, but also because of the charges and it’s essential that he understands this.
“Some prisoners really value their personal reputation and don’t care if they get in trouble or sent to a higher security prison.
“They don’t care if they go to the hole – an isolated housing unit – so those are the prisoners he will need to be concerned about because they are more comfortable in jail than they are in society. They don’t care if they remain longer.”
He continued: “Those kinds of prisoners may look to make an example out of someone they loathe and hate. The main thing he will want to avoid is violence, not responding in kind when he is name-called or someone tries to pick a fight.
“That requires a sense of discipline and restraint, but more importantly he will need to create a routine where he is away from as much trouble as possible.”
Justin, who himself was previously convicted of a felony for violating securities laws and runs another sentence mitigation service called White Collar Advice, added that alleged child sex offenders can also become targets of prison staff.
He said: “For 13 years, we have guided more than 1,000 people, primarily white collar defendants.
“Over that time we have heard everything from defendants getting beat up, to having feces and urine put in their sheets to being ostracized by staff and given a tougher job.
“Speaking anecdotally, I know that some staff can be degrading and dehumanizing to all kind of prisoners, but there is certainly a stigma that accompanies child sex crimes. There is a common saying that people who killed are more respected in prison than the sex offender.
“It comes back to prison reputation and people looking to assert their authority and I would argue that that includes staff, especially if they are fathers and have children. They may not be particularly sympathetic to someone who allegedly downloaded child pornography.”
He added that in some cases, prisoners could see attacking a child sex offender as a “badge of honor.”
He continued: “This is a federal charge and if he pleads guilty or is convicted at trial Josh will be ineligible for a minimum security camp. Since it is a sex crime, he would be in a low security prison and there is a different type of prisoner there.
“There could be more violence, more gang affiliation, longer prison terms, so there can be some problems there especially since it would be hard for him to lay low.
“There is no worse crime to serve time for in the federal system than child sex crime, other than some kind of violent, terrible crime.”
The Celeb Report previously broke Josh was arrested for the federal charges in Washington County last Thursday.
According to the indictment, Josh “knowingly received child pornography” between or about May 14, 2019 and on or about May 16, 2019.
For the second count, Josh “knowingly possessed material that contained images of child pornography,” including “images of minors under the age of 12.”
According the Department of Justice, Josh “allegedly used the internet to download child sexual abuse material. Duggar allegedly possessed this material, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12, in May 2019.”
If convicted, he could receive 20 years in prison with fines up to $250,000 on each count.
Josh pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He remains in jail and has a hearing today to determine if he could be released on bail, as the government requested he remain behind bars.
If released, the judge said Josh must reside with a third party.
Josh requested he is released so he could “return home” to his pregnant wife, Anna, and their six children.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
