Josh Duggar arrives in court for day one of child pornography trial

Fallen reality star Josh Duggar ignored questions today as he arrived for day one of a federal child pornography trial that could see him locked up for 40 years.

Duggar, 33, clasped hands with his wife Anna and strode purposely past TV cameras as the pair arrived at the John Paul Hammerschmidt federal courthouse in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Tuesday. 

Asked how he was feeling, Duggar, wearing a dark navy suit, white shirt and polka dot tie, and Anna, wearing a black dress, both stared straight ahead before entering the building, where phones and electronic devices have been banned for the duration of proceedings.

Duggar, famous for appearing in TLC's 19 Kids and Counting, was charged in April with two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty and jury selection is due to start today.  

An evidentiary hearing was held on Monday ahead of jury selection to determine whether two witnesses, including Duggar's father Jim Bob Duggar, and a family friend will be allowed to testify.  

The hearing came about after prosecutors said they wanted to introduce evidence regarding Duggar's previous molestation accusations, which defense attorneys disagreed with. 

Duggar is alleged to have confessed to his parents and family friend Bobbye Holt in 2003 - when he was 15 years old - about molesting four young girls since he was 12.

Details of the admission were heard for the first time during emotional court testimony that prosecutors say would help establish a pattern of behavior. 

The defense however argued that Duggar was a minor himself at the time of the alleged acts and had made the confession during a spiritual counseling session with Holt, which should be protected by Arkansas's law on clergy privilege.

The three-hour hearing concluded with the judge asking for briefings on the issue from each side Tuesday morning ahead of jury selection. 

Duggar is the eldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's nine daughters and ten sons featured on the TLC reality show which documented the devout Baptist family's life in Tontitown, Arkansas. 

TLC pulled the long-running reality series after seven years in 2015 over revelations that Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. 

Duggar's parents said he confessed to the fondling and apologized. He also apologized for his pornography addiction and for cheating on his wife, Anna, with whom he has seven children. 

Duggar was further embroiled in scandal that year when his name and credit card transactions appeared in a data breach that leaked the information of users of Ashley Madison, an online dating service encouraging extramarital affairs. 

Later that year, porn actress Danica Dillon sued him claiming a brutal rape in March during which he allegedly choked her and ignored her pleas for him to stop.

Josh's wife Anna was six-months pregnant at the time and home with their three children. 

Duggar spent seven days in jail after his April 29 arrest before being fitted with an ankle monitor and bailed into home detention. 

He was charged with downloading and possessing pornographic images of children under 12 years old, which he denies.