Joseph Duggar addressed the situation following his brother Josh Duggar‘s admission of sexually abusing five girls, including family members.
On Wednesday, March 18, news emerged that 31-year-old Joseph was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior for allegedly molesting a victim under 12 years old and for similar behavior by someone aged 18 or older.
A press release from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida revealed that investigators were contacted by a detective from the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas concerning a past sexual abuse report. A 14-year-old victim alleged several incidents from 2020 involving Joseph when she was 9 years old. Joseph is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County.
In earlier years, Joseph had spoken against Josh’s actions after the older Duggar sibling, now 38, was accused of molesting five girls — including four of his sisters — during his teenage years.
“Whenever somebody you respect the most is willing to get up and proclaim what we believe as Christians, about being true to your wife, you’d never think that that’s the person who’s involved in it,” Joseph said in a 2015 episode of Counting On.
Joseph went on to express his disbelief, noting that Josh “was living such a secret life,” adding, “It broke my heart.”
TLC introduced the Duggar family to viewers in 2008 with the debut of 19 Kids and Counting, which showcased Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar‘s large, conservative family. However, the series was canceled after Josh admitted to molestation charges. The spinoff, Counting On, was also canceled in 2021 following Josh’s arrest on child pornography charges. He was later convicted of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material.
In 2015, Josh apologized for his actions, acknowledging that he had previously sought counseling for his “wrongdoings” during his teenage years.
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,” he wrote on the family’s Facebook account. “I hurt others, including my family and close friends.”
Subsequently, data from the Ashley Madison website was leaked by hackers, revealing that Josh had been unfaithful to his wife, Anna Duggar, after his account was exposed.
The next generation of Duggars are here and more are on the way — because 19 Kids and Counting just wasn’t enough. It all started when Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar tied the knot in 1984 and started growing their family four years later. Since Josh’s 1988 birth, the couple have welcomed twins John-David […]
“I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust,” Josh explained on his family’s website in 2015. “The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings. As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all [the] hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example. I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.”
Josh and Anna stayed together and expanded their family to seven children. After Josh was arrested in 2021, he pleaded not guilty but was sentenced to 151 months in prison, where he is still serving time.
Joseph is married to Kendra Duggar. The couple married in 2017 and have four children: sons Garrett and Justus, and daughters Addison Renee and Brooklyn.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
