Josh Duggar, who has been charged receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images, previously went to a Christian treatment center for addiction
Josh Duggar may be heading to prison for allegedly receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images, but when he confessed to having a pornography 'addiction' in 2015, he addressed the problem privately by checking into a Christian treatment center for addiction.
Now 33, Josh had just welcomed his fourth child when he publicly admitted to 'a secret addiction' of 'viewing pornography on the Internet' — which, at the time, was presumed to involve only adult imagery — and was promptly flown to the Reformers Unanimous residential treatment center in Rockford, Illinois.
Josh spent six months in a shared room at the $7,500-per-month facility with no access to email or cell phones, and passed his time in prayer, reading the Bible, and attending mandatory church services and meetings.
But though the program aims to help people nurture 'the relationship with Christ necessary to enjoy their freedom from the power of sin,' one of its own former counselors, Pastor Jack Allen Schaap, had pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal sexual assault stemming from the statutory rape of an underage girl on multiple occasions.
Josh checked into the treatment center in August of 2015 after a leak of user information for the cheating website Ashley Madison was found to include Josh's name.
At the time, he admitted to being unfaithful and watching pornography, saying he was 'ashamed' of his 'double life' and 'personal failings.'
Confession: Josh publicly admitted to 'a secret pornography addiction' in 2015 and was flown to the Reformers Unanimous residential treatment center in Rockford, Illinois
Days later, his parents released a statement saying that Josh had 'checked himself into a long-term treatment center.'
'For him it will be a long journey toward wholeness and recovery. We pray that in this he comes to complete repentance and sincere change,' they wrote.
While they didn't confirm the name of the facility, Gawker reported that a plane owned by Duggar Aviation — which was usually flown by younger brother John David Duggar — had landed at Chicago Rockford International Airport on August 25, 2015, and he was believed to have gone to the nearby Reformers Unanimous center.
According to the center's website, the residential recover program — which it describes as a 'discipleship' — provides 'a reconstructive learning atmosphere where the non-functioning person can be trained in a supportive environment of discipleship consisting of study, mentoring, Bible education, and workplace training.'
Long road: He spent six months in a shared room at the $7,500-per-month facility, where he had to sleep in bunkbeds, and was banned from using email or a cell phone
Schedule: During his time there, Duggar (see in February 2015) was woken early and had to go to sleep at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends
Out: Duggar, now 33, was released on bail on Thursday afternoon after being arrested on child pornography charges
'This atmosphere can be referred to as a 'greenhouse' effect. We help get the student rooted firmly, so they are able to withstand all that life brings to them,' they said.
While Reformers also would not confirm Josh's attendance, Tony Richardson, director of development with the center, spoke about the program with People.
'It is not a country club,' he said. 'It is like going to college, but I don't know if it is as nice as that.'
The center, which sits on 1.5 acres, was once a nursing home and treats up to 40 men at a time, with two men to a room sleeping in bunk beds.
The men are woken up early and must go to sleep at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. They are not allowed to email or use cell phones, and can only watched approved television on weekends or enjoy free time in a game room.
The center monitors communication that patients have with their families, but they are allowed to go out with family members on weekends after 60 days inside. Anyone can choose to leave the program at any time.
Anna and some of Josh's other family members flew up for a visit on Christmas.
'Everyone just had fun and seemed to be high spirits, including Anna,' a source told People magazine of the visit.
Everyone is expected to work while in treatment, with jobs including cook, mechanic, and groundskeeper.
'We deal with everything from a sin standpoint,' Richardson said. 'We call it to the school of
