Joseph Duggar, a former 19 Kids and Counting star, was arrested on March 19 in Arkansas on child molestation charges. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Panama City detailed in an arrest affidavit that the allegations involve lewd and lascivious behavior toward a child under 12 years old.
On March 20, Joseph’s wife, Kendra Duggar, faced four counts of second-degree child welfare endangerment and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, charged alongside her husband.
These charges emerge five years after Joseph’s brother, Josh Duggar, received a conviction for downloading child sexual abuse material online. Joseph previously shared on Counting On that his brother’s actions “broke [his] heart,” leaving him shocked at the discovery of Josh’s “secret [life].”
Family Reactions to the Arrest
Josh Duggar’s Attorney Responds
Josh Duggar’s attorney noted that Josh lacks details on the claims against Joseph but recognizes the intense media attention on their family. “Josh Duggar does not know the details of the claims that have been made against his brother, Joseph. But, he knows the media frenzy that any incident regarding his family creates,” the attorney stated. He added, “He feels for his brother because everything is amplified out of proportion by the media interest in his family. This makes the pain of the criminal justice process exponentially worse.” The attorney confirmed, “Josh prays for his brother and he hopes that he can stay strong. He too has felt the crushing wave of accusation that is powered by the media spectacle to which his family is subjected.”
Jessa Duggar Seewald’s Statement
Joseph’s sister, Jessa Duggar Seewald, posted on social media on March 20: “We learned of this saddening news along with the rest of the world on Wednesday, and we are in complete shock. Our hearts are grieving for this innocent young girl, and we know this is deeply grievous to God, who cares tenderly for children and the vulnerable. We are keeping her in our prayers.” She continued, “As a family, we are pulling together to support Kendra and her kids during this difficult time.” Jessa removed the post soon after.
Jill Duggar Dillard’s Blog Post
Sister Jill Duggar Dillard addressed the arrest in a blog post: “We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.” She expressed, “We love our sister-in-law, Kendra, and our four nieces and nephews and pray that they feel loved and supported during this time as we cannot imagine the indescribable pain they feel as they process and grieve everything.” This statement preceded Kendra’s charges, and the post remains available online.
