’s latest attempt to get himself out of prison has been foiled– again. 

The disgraced former star– who is currently incarcerated in Texas after being convicted in December 2021 of receiving child sex abuse materials (CSAM)– filed a motion last month with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas asking that he be appointed a lawyer to help him fight to challenge his conviction; however, his request has since been denied. 

According to KNWA/KFTA News in Fayetteville, Arkansas, said in an order filed last week that Josh’s motion to appoint counsel both lacked sufficient detail and failed to justify the request under federal law. 

According to court documents, while courts can appoint counsel in certain post-conviction cases at their discretion, this can only be done if the petition “presents a non-frivolous claim” and meets other factors, which the judge determined that Josh’s case did not meet. 

In his attempt to persuade the Arkansas federal court to provide him with a new legal team, Josh wrote a letter last month to (who handled Josh’s first trial), explaining that he was seeking the court’s assistance in appointing counsel to “help evaluate my case and, if appropriate, prepare a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct my conviction and sentence.” 

In the letter, which was obtained by The Sun, Josh touted his alleged behind-bars activities before noting that he believes there are “significant issues” relating to his case that “merit a post-conviction review.”   

“During my time of incarceration, I have worked diligently to focus on education, personal growth, my faith, and to maintain strong family ties,” he wrote. “However, as I review my case, I believe there are significant issues relating to trial error, evidentiary rulings, and other constitutional violations that merit a thorough post-conviction review. 

“I am unable to fully assess these matters on my own, which is why I seek the assistance of qualified counsel to help evaluate whether relief is justified,” he continued. 

Josh concluded his letter by thanking the judge for his “time, consideration and continued service to justice,” before signing off with, “May God bless you and this Court.” 

As told you last month, Josh also stated in his letter to the judge that he is no longer able to afford a private attorney due to his “current financial circumstances” and therefore was in need of a public defender. 

As you may remember, this isn’t the first time Josh has attempted to get the court to take another look at his case or to get himself released from prison. 

Back in 2022, Josh filed an appeal, claiming his former friend was to blame for the CSAM found on the work computer of Josh’s now-shuttered car lot, . That same year, the father of seven and his legal team continued arguing for Josh to be granted a new trial for receiving CSAM, alleging that Josh’s rights were violated during the 2019 raid on his car lot and that he had been denied the ability to present a case against Caleb during the 2021 trial. 

Josh’s (now former) legal team fought for a new trial again in 2023, but in August of that year, Josh’s appeal and request for a new trial were denied. Despite multiple failed efforts, Josh then petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for another trial, but he was denied (again) in June 2024. 

Josh is expected to remain in prison until at least October 2032. 

(Photos: Instagram; TLC)