In their federal investigation intoJosh Duggar, investigators uncovered a program installed on the former19 Kids and Countingstar’s computer that monitored his internet usage and would report its findings to his wife, Anna, according to officials.
The program, called Covenant Eyes, was registered under Josh and Anna’s name, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Gerald Faulknersaid in a virtual detention hearingon Wednesday.
According to Covenant Eyes' website, the program is an “accountability software” that is meant to protect users from objectionable content and help monitor the screen activity of those with porn addictions.
Josh and Anna Duggar.Anna Duggar/Instagram
During Wednesday’s virtual detention hearing, Faulkner said Covenant Eyes was unable to detect Duggar’s internet usage after a password-protected network was installed on his computer.
Covenant Eyes' president and devout Christian, Ron DeHaas,said in a 2008 blog postthat he co-founded the project after his “passion and burden for the devastating effects of Internet pornography weighed heavier and heavier, and I could not stop.”
“From a business standpoint, or from the standpoint of security of my family, I actually thought about stopping in September, 2000. But God kept opening doors, and I could not stop,” DeHaas — whoalso founded Nehemiah Ministries, a 160-acre retreat and counseling center for pastors and missionaries — wrote.
Covenant Eyes currently has over 150,000 subscribers, according to the company’s website.
Josh, 33, wasarrested on April 29on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Hepled not guiltythe following day in court.
A judge at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas ruled on Wednesday that Josh will bereleased from the detention center where he’s been held for the last weekto designated third party custodians. The judge also ruled that Josh be confined to their home with GPS tracking.
In May 2015, Josh apologized for his “wrongdoing” following the release of a 2006 police report that revealed that he had been investigated as a teen for inappropriately touching five underage girls. His sistersJill, now 29, andJessa, now 28, subsequentlystepped forward and identified themselves as two of the victims.
Josh Duggar.Patsy Lynch/Shutterstock
Months later, in August 2015,Gawkerreported that the oldest Duggar son appeared to have had active accounts onAshley Madison, a website created to facilitate cheating on your spouse.
Josh ultimately confessed to having a pornography addiction and cheating on his wife in anapologetic statementon the Duggar family website.
“I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife. I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him,” the statement read.
If convicted of the current charges against him, Joshcould face up to 40 years in prison.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
