Josh Duggar Responds To What He Calls "Inexcusable Actions" When He was a Teen
May 21, 2015
by Michael Rothman, via Good Morning America


Josh Duggar is responding to recent reports that he inappropriately touched minors several years ago, saying he "would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions."

A representative for TLC, the network behind the Duggars' show "19 Kids and Counting", referred a request by ABC News for comment to the Duggars' personal representative. That person did not immediately respond to a request for comment.





In a statement first provided to People magazine and then posted to Facebook, Josh admitted, "Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. ... I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged."

Josh, now 27 but 14 at the time of the first alleged incident, admitted he told his father of his actions. "I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life," he said.

People magazine added that Josh has now resigned from his position at the Family Research Council.





Josh's parents Jim Bob and Michelle added:

"When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before ... We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family. We have challenges and struggles every day."





Josh's wife Anna, 26, has also released a statement to People, saying she knew about Josh's actions before they were married, adding that he received counseling after the incidents, which "changed his life."

"I can imagine the shock many of you are going through reading this. I remember feeling that same shock," she told the magazine. "When my family and I first visited the Duggar home, Josh shared his past teenage mistakes."

Anna added that she was surprised by Josh's "openness and humility" in admitting this.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/josh-duggar-responds-calls-inexcusable-actions-teenager/story?

And didn't his parents bash the gay community?

Such hypocrisy...

TLC “Deeply Saddened” As It Pulls All Episodes of "19 Kids and Counting" In Wake of Child Molestation Allegations – Update
by Lisa de Moraes
May 22, 2015


“Effective immediately, TLC has pulled all episodes of '19 Kids and Counting' currently from the air. We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time,” the Discovery Communications network said in a statement just sent to the media.

The network declined to elaborate as to whether this was a temporary situation.

http://deadline.com/2015/05/19-kids-counting-josh-duggar-child-molestation-accusations-apology-tlc-honey-boo-boo-1201431751/

Just my opinion: they show keep it pulled because it's stupid anyways.

But to all the fans: have no fear, TLC will eventually give in and start airing it again like A&E did with Duck DyNASTY.

And didn't his parents bash the gay community?

Such hypocrisy...

It seems that those that protest the loudest carry the most guilt...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/as-much-as-some-might-like-to-now-is-not-the-time-to-cancel-the-duggars/2015/05/22/9e242ba8-00af-11e5-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html

"Now is not the time to cancel it," says Hank Stuever, pointing out that the controversy could result in a better, more informative show -- perfect for reality TV. "Now is the time for TLC to double down and have the courage to present America, at last, with a truly unscripted show about a family enduring a crisis largely of its own making. Life is not what it quite seems at the Duggar compound — but who ever watched that show and sincerely thought it was always that perfect? Who would honestly believe that you can raise 19 human beings to all think and act according to their parents' beliefs? No family is immune to suffering; no family is without its secrets. Cancellation would erase the Duggars from popular culture just at the moment that they've become more real." PLUS: Why TLC should cancel 19 Kids (http://time.com/3894417/josh-duggar-19-kids-and-counting-molestation) and get out of the Duggar business.

twitter is going crazy


lots of morons out there like this trashy show and even are mad it got canned

Since these crimes occurred before the show started did TLC not attempt to do a criminal background check before greenlighting this show ?! The fact that the 'parents' actually eagerly put on this sideshow afterwards on instead of attempting to help the victims deal with what had happened is unconscionable -to say nothing of them trying to pitch themselves as somehow being superior to all other families for their large number and 'values'.

There are a lot of folks who failed the victims who need to be held accountable in this world and the next. :cuss:
:mad:

P.S. Don't even get me started on the criminal's behavior. :angryfire

I hope this show NEVER gets back on again! Only because I hate Reality Shows!

I hope this show NEVER gets back on again! Only because I hate Reality Shows!
Ditto.

I love your surfing Bugs Bunny avatar.

http://nypost.com/2015/05/23/toddlers-and-trash-tlcs-freak-shows-were-bound-to-explode/

"Do me a favor, TLC. Please don't say you never saw this coming," says Michael Starr. "You play with fire, you're gonna get burned."

I'm proud to say I've never heard of this show until the scandal. Then I thought maybe it was a new show but I discovered it began in 2008. Wow.

I'm proud to say I've never heard of this show until the scandal. Then I thought maybe it was a new show but I discovered it began in 2008. Wow.
Lol consider yourself lucky to have never heard of it. I've heard of it but I've never watched it.

This is a terrible situation -- I hope the victims received counseling.

I'm proud to say I've never heard of this show until the scandal. Then I thought maybe it was a new show but I discovered it began in 2008. Wow.
I never heard of this show either.
What was the premise of this show? An what was the scandal?

Anyone else think that the reason the parent's didn't do much, is because the father himself or the people around him are also child molesters?

I'm not too sure a 14 year old becomes a molester unless he also was molested.

The Duggar Parents Are Going to Speak Publicly About the Scandal
by Tim Surette
May 30, 2015


Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, the progenitors of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting", have scheduled their first interview after last week's molestation scandal involving their eldest son Josh.

Fox News' Megyn Kelly has landed the coveted interview, which will be taped Wednesday in the Duggars' home state of Arkansas, with a large portion of it broadcast later that evening on The Kelly File, Deadline reports.

Some of the interview will also be held for a one-hour special The Kelly File, scheduled to air on Friday night.



The couple have been largely quiet since their eldest son Josh admitted to molesting several underage girls, including some of his sisters, when he was 14 and 15 years old.

Since the scandal broke, TLC pulled "19 Kids and Counting" off its schedule, and Hulu yanked the show from its streaming service. TLC has not yet decided whether it will cancel the series.

http://www.tvguide.com/news/duggar-parents-interview-molestation-scandal-fox-news-megyn-kelly/

Michelle Duggar Tells Megyn Kelly She Felt Like “Failure” as Second Police Report on Son Fondling Sisters Emerges
by Lisa de Moraes
June 3, 2015


“As parents we felt, ‘We’re failures’,” Michelle Duggar says in Fox News Channel’s first glimpse her sit-down with Megyn Kelly. “We tried to raise our kids to do what’s right — to know what’s right. And yet one of our children made really bad choices.”

Just a few hours earlier, In Touch published an update to its Duggar coverage – this one based on a report is from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office which, reported son Josh Duggar had, in March of 2002, come to his father to confess “that he had been sneaking into [redacted, his sisters’] room at night and had been touching [redacted, his sisters] on the breasts and vaginal areas while they were sleeping” in a common bedroom, that Josh went from sister to sister, and that it had occurred four to five times.

In Touch said it obtained this report, as it had with the Springdale police Department report on Josh Duggar, using the Freedom of Information Act.




Late last week the Fox News Channel primetime anchor landed tonight’s much-chased interview with the Duggar parents. Fox News will turn around the interview quickly to air in Kelly’s timeslot, 9 PM ET.

The bulk of the interview, which will be conducted in their hometown in Arkansas, will air tonight, but FNC also has planned a one-hour Kelly File Special for Friday night.

http://deadline.com/2015/06/duggar-interview-megyn-kelly-preview-video-1201437172/

Megyn Kelly Interviews Josh Duggar Victims/Sisters Jill and Jessa – Update
by Lisa de Moraes
June 3, 2015


Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly interviewed two of the Duggar daughters, Jill and Jessa, for tonight’s broadcast. It will be the first time any of Josh Duggar’s alleged victims have been named.

“I do want to speak up in his defense, against people who are calling him a child molester or a pedophile or a rapist, some people are saying,” Jessa Duggar, one of four sisters that Josh Duggar allegedly fondled when he and they were minors, told Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly in an interview today.



“I’m like, ‘that is so overboard and a lie really.’ I mean people get mad at me for saying that, but I can say this because I was one of the victims,” Jessa said during the interview, which will be telecast on tonight’s The Kelly File.

She described what her brother did as being “very wrong.”




Megyn Kelly released a statement after doing her interview with the Duggar family:

“Jim Bob and Michelle very much understand their show and reputation are on the line. I believe it still has a chance, it’s not totally done. I think they knew they needed to speak to somebody and get their story out.”

She added — their story being that the information about their son and daughters was “released without their consent.”

http://deadline.com/2015/06/megyn-kelly-interviews-josh-duggar-victims-sisters-tonight-1201437291/

http://gawker.com/19-excuses-and-counting-every-excuse-the-duggars-made-1708883481

From "This was not rape" to "They didn't know he had done it." PLUS: Duggar interview was "a straightforward clean-up job" (http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/06/04/giving_the_duggars_a_softball_interview_hurts_the_conservative_movement.html) for Fox News.

Sarah Palin says it's "hypocritical" to criticize the Duggars while letting Lena Dunham off the hook.

https://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin/posts/10153385009473588

This whole thing is a total mess. More time should be spent helping the victims instead of focusing on the parents.

I've always been told that when you point your finger at someone, you're pointing 3 fingers back at yourself.

The sad thing about this is all the money that will be made off of interviews and such. Not a damn penny should be gained from a travesty like this.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/sarahjones/how-tlcs-fundamentalism-as-kitsch-hurts-women

With shows like 19 Kids and Counting and Submissive Wives’ Guide to Marriage, TLC hurts every former fundamentalist who’s been dehumanized and silenced.

And didn't his parents bash the gay community?

Such hypocrisy...


Just because some guy in this family did a very bad thing a few years ago, that doesn't make homosexuality any less perverted than it's always been.

Just because some guy in this family did a very bad thing a few years ago, that doesn't make homosexuality any less perverted than it's always been.
I'm amazed you're not the governor.

As a matter of fact, if this guy had done the same thing to a couple of his younger brothers (instead of his younger sisters), the reaction would be somewhat different.

The right would still say that what he did was wrong.

The left would demand that he be given his own reality show, which they would completely embrace.

What happened to Lena Dunham. I am not familiar with her. What show is she on.??

What happened to Lena Dunham. I am not familiar with her. What show is she on.??

Lena Dunham is the creator and star of Girls, a dramedy on cable. I think it's on HBO or Showtime, and it can get pretty racy. She admitted in a book that she touched her sister when she was a kid. So some of the Duggar supporters are claiming hypocrisy that Lena is getting away with similar behavior.

Both what she and Josh Duggar did are nasty but there is a difference the Duggar supporters either can't or won't realize...Lena Dunham is not publicly calling the LBGT community perverts and using religion as a form of hate and shame. You don't tell someone their lifestyle is wrong and sinful when you have a family member doing things in your own home that are also sinful, but is also a crime at the same time.

As a matter of fact, if this guy had done the same thing to a couple of his younger brothers (instead of his younger sisters), the reaction would be somewhat different.

The right would still say that what he did was wrong.

The left would demand that he be given his own reality show, which they would completely embrace.

You are delusional to think "the left" would support someone who molests his brothers and ask for a reality show. I can't even fathom how someone sane and rational would even believe that crap.

You are delusional to think "the left" would support someone who molests his brothers and ask for a reality show. I can't even fathom how someone sane and rational would even believe that crap.

I know there are people who are as left-wing as they come, that would detest stuff like that. To lump everyone on "the left" in the same group, like Tweety just did, is not only stereotypical, but also an oversimplification. And with comments like that, it is no wonder left and right can't get along.

But like I said, it isn't worth wasting your time trying to debate him, and in the process raising your blood pressure. I know, because I tried that before. Just ignore him, and you'll do fine.

But like I said, it isn't worth wasting your time trying to debate him, and in the process raising your blood pressure. I know, because I tried that before. Just ignore him, and you'll do fine.
True words.

I know there are people who are as left-wing as they come, that would detest stuff like that. To lump everyone on "the left" in the same group, like Tweety just did, is not only stereotypical, but also an oversimplification. And with comments like that, it is no wonder left and right can't get along.

But like I said, it isn't worth wasting your time trying to debate him, and in the process raising your blood pressure. I know, because I tried that before. Just ignore him, and you'll do fine.

I didn't know there was a "history", so I will take your advice.

You are delusional to think "the left" would support someone who molests his brothers and ask for a reality show. I can't even fathom how someone sane and rational would even believe that crap.

The left does not detest Lena Dunham and the things she did to a one-year old niece. She is embraced by them.

So much for your theory.

I never heard of this show either.
What was the premise of this show? An what was the scandal?

It's a show on TLC about this family that has 19 children; ranging in ages 27 down to 5. All 19 of the children's names start with a "J". Anyway, they are part of what's called the "Quiverfull" movement that preaches you should never practice birth control...ever....Women are considered breeding mares and should never work outside the home and aren't allowed to date but can "court". This means the young man who wishes to pursue the young lady has to ask permission from the girl's father and then they aren't allowed to have any physical contact; no hand holding, no hugging, no kissing until they are married. If they so choose, they can hold hands after getting engaged. They also have to have a chaperone on every date and can NEVER be alone until their wedding night.

The women dress VERY modestly and aren't allowed to cut their hair. If a man feels "sexual temptation", the woman is blamed for "not being modest enough".

The scandal is that the oldest, Josh, who is married with 3 kids of his own, molested 5 girls when he was between the ages of 14-17. Four of the girls were his sisters, who were all little girls...the youngest one he molested was 5.

Two of the sisters he molested, Jill and Jessa, are defending him saying "it was a long time ago", "it was dealt with in the home", etc. "He's asked God to forgive him", blah blah blah.

The parents are saying "he touched them over their clothes when they were asleep and they didn't know about it." (That's creepy right there, btw.)

It has caused quite a *$_%!-storm on the web with the defenders of this creepy family vs everyone else.

As soon as all this came out, around May 21, TLC pulled the show because all of the show's sponsors starting backing out, saying they didn't want to support a molester.

I think it is insane for a woman to have 20 pregnancies and 19 children (they tried for 20, but the baby died, and the 19 number comes from single births unless they had twins).

How do parents have a relationship with each of their 19 children? In some ways, it would be good, because I was an only child who got all my parents attention. Being one out of 19, I would feel lost in the shuffle. Also, the parents have the older children are care of the younger children.

Also, if you have a bunch of kids, chances are that one of the kids is going to be a bad seed. Just probability at work. I don't pay attention to the Duggars so I cannot say I care either way, except that I think that having 19 children sort of makes them morons more than celebrities. Does this woman still have a uterus? Jim Bob, wear a condom!

I wish they would bring back Honey Boo Boo. But the walrus faced mother messed that up. But even her, who probably has had sex with every man in her hometown only has five children. Birth Control!

they are part of what's called the "Quiverfull" movement
Sounds like a creepy cult.

Honestly, I'm so sick of hearing about this. I hope and pray the victims get the help they need----at this point that's all that should matter. I'm so sick of seeing the Duggars on TV trying to defend this situation.

I have a life and what goes on in the Duggars life isn't any of my business. I feel sorry for the victims but I honestly don't really care. I know that sounds harsh but it's none of my business. I don't concern myself (and other people shouldn't either) with other people's business.

You know what???----the Duggars are wondering why people are attacking them...it's not because they're Christians or because of their beliefs, it's because they've put theirselves on TV to be watched and picked apart. They've put theirselves in all the drama. You reap what you sow. Reality TV is no good...it looks like people would realize this.

The reason why I am even posting here is that this garbage show and hypocritical family is on a basic channel that I don't want.

I also find it hard to believe that TLC wasn't aware of this when Oprah was.

You know what the irony is? I have been a SO since 2002.
A few times there was a thread on the Chit Chat Board "Guess what, Michelle Duggar is pregnant again". For quite awhile, I didn't know who this person was that SO was discussing. It wasn't until much, much later I came across their show while channel surfing.

TLC Cancels "19 Kids & Counting" in Wake of Josh Duggar Molestation Scandal
by Matt Webb Mitovich
July 16, 2015


TLC has cancelled the reality hit "19 Kids & Counting", the Associated Press has learned, nearly two months after eldest son Josh Duggar’s admission that, as a teenager, he sexually molested underage girls — allegedly including some of his sisters.

http://tvline.com/2015/07/16/19-kids-and-counting-cancelled-josh-duggar-molestation-scandal/

http://deadline.com/2015/07/19-kids-and-counting-cancelled-officially-tlc-1201477067/

It looks like TLC wanted the Duggar cancelation to be lost in the Emmy nomination news.

Thank God! Now, let social services do an investigation and get those kids the help they need.

Good riddance to this freakshow garbage. TLC is utter trash.

http://gawker.com/are-there-any-shows-on-tlc-not-tainted-by-pedophilia-or-1721376215?

Pedophilia or violence seems to be a recurring theme on troubled TLC shows from Honey Boo Boo to 19 Kids and Counting.

Canceling "19 Kids & Counting" Cost Discovery $19 Million (and Counting)
by James Hibberd
8/5/15


In a perfect numerical symmetry that suggests the universe is intelligently designed with a built-in sense of ironic humor, TLC canceling "19 Kids & Counting" has cost the cable network $19 million — and counting.

Discovery Communications CFO Andy Warren noted the loss on the company’s second-quarter earnings report conference call Wednesday, citing a deficit from “higher restructuring and other charges this year of $19 million primarily due to content impairment charges from canceling TLC’s 19 Kids & Counting.”



Since the reality show following a heavily populated Christian family was TLC’s top-rated series, losing the prospect of future seasons will presumably impact the company’s bottom line in the future as well (thus, “and counting”).

TLC performed the difficult act of canceling its top earner last month due to fallout surrounding eldest son Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal. TLC plans to continue to work with the family for a documentary about child sex abuse.

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/05/canceling-19-kids-counting

Former "19 Kids and Counting" Star Josh Duggar Arrested and Held in Jail in Arkansas
by Ally Mauch
April 29, 2021


Josh Duggar has been arrested and is being held without bond in an Arkansas jail.

The former "19 Kids and Counting" star was arrested by Homeland Security on Thursday, a representative for the U.S. Marshals Service confirms to PEOPLE. Online jail records do not indicate what charges he was arrested on when he was booked.

Representatives for Josh and for TLC did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

https://ew.com/syndication/josh-duggar-arrested-arkansas-jail/

Josh Duggar Charged on 2 Federal Child Pornography Counts; Pleads “Not Guilty,” Requests Bail
by Tom Tapp
April 30, 2021


Former "19 Kids and Counting" star Josh Duggar was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography in federal court on Friday.

While the 33-year-old Duggar reportedly declined to have the charges read when he appeared before court via Zoom on Friday, his attorney plead “not guilty to both counts” on his behalf.




The first count alleges that the oldest of the Duggar children “knowingly received child pornography…Between on or about May 14, 2019, and on or about May 16, 2019.” The charges are federal because they involve transmission of images across state lines, whether by mail, Internet or other means.

The second charge is for possession, “including images of minors under the age of 12 that had been mailed, and shipped and transported using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce.”




Jill Duggar Dillard and husband Derick Dillard, spoke to People on Thursday about Duggar’s arrest. “We just found out this information yesterday,” they said. “It is very sad.”

A trial date for his case was set for July 6, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for July 1.

https://deadline.com/2021/04/josh-duggar-child-pornography-charges-not-guilty-1234747686/

Former "19 Kids and Counting" Star Josh Duggar Arrested and Held in Jail in Arkansas
by Ally Mauch
April 29, 2021


Josh Duggar has been arrested and is being held without bond in an Arkansas jail.

The former "19 Kids and Counting" star was arrested by Homeland Security on Thursday, a representative for the U.S. Marshals Service confirms to PEOPLE. Online jail records do not indicate what charges he was arrested on when he was booked.

Representatives for Josh and for TLC did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

https://ew.com/syndication/josh-duggar-arrested-arkansas-jail/

This is my surprised face. :rolleyes2

Pedos gonna pedo.

"Counting On" Cancelled at TLC after 11 Seasons Ahead of Josh Duggar Child Pornography Trial
by Tom Tapp
June 29, 2021


TLC has canceled the show "Counting On" after 11 seasons, the network confirmed to Deadline on Tuesday.

“TLC will not be producing additional seasons of Counting On,” read the statement. “TLC feels it is important to give the Duggar family the opportunity to address their situation privately.”

That situation is Josh Duggar's federal trial for receiving and possessing child pornography, which was supposed to begin on July 6, but was pushed to November 30, 2021 just minutes before the show’s cancelation was revealed.

https://deadline.com/2021/06/counting-on-canceled-tlc-josh-duggar-trial-1234783758/

TLC's Duggar family cancelation comes six years too late (https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2021/06/counting-on-tlc-cancelled-duggar-family-reality-show/)

In the wake of TLC's decision to end Counting On after 11 seasons following Josh Duggar's child porn arrest, Andy Dehnart points out that "TLC’s executives’ decisions regarding this show are horrifying, and if they revealed they were attempting to become the most amoral, unethical cable network in existence, I would not be surprised. First, in 2015, the same day as the Duggars admission, TLC aired a marathon of 19 Kids and Counting. Only the next day did they pull the show off the schedule. But they didn’t cancel it. Even after Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar offered a revolting defense of their son’s molestation of their daughters, TLC did nothing."

iycpDvXYnIo

Join me as we delve down the rabbit hole of one of reality TV's most disgraced families, and explore the story that allowed Josh Duggar to evade the law for as long as he did.

TIMECODES:

intro - 00:00
our wonderful sponsor - 3:09
meet the duggars - 4:38
belief system - 8:29
raising a tv family - 10:00
a "wholesome" brand - 14:38
the first josh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf0yXsyoZgo) incident - 18:59
institute in basic life principles - 21:47
the leak - 25:18
the fallout - 29:56
more secrets - 39:24
the trial of josh duggar - 44:59
conclusion - 51:51


_BWsF7zEhsY

Josh Duggar Convicted on Child Pornography Charges, Faces 20 Years in Prison
by Tom Tapp
Dec. 9, 2021


Former "19 Years and Counting" star Josh Duggar, 33, was convicted today on two counts of receiving and possessing child pornography. It took a Fayetteville, Arkansas jury one day to deliver the verdict.

The father of seven faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each charge when he’s finally sentenced, according to AP. His legal team told NBC News that they plan to appeal.

https://deadline.com/2021/12/josh-duggar-convicted-child-porn-1234887891/

the porn was in the top 5 worst the fed agents have ever seen and involved toddlers

Josh Duggar Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Child Pornography
by Tom Tapp
May 25, 2022


Former "19 Kids and Counting" star Josh Duggar, 34, was sentenced to twelve-and-a-half years in prison today, according to the Associated Press. The father of seven had faced a maximum of 20 years after prosecutors argued he has a “deep-seated, pervasive and violent sexual interest in children.”

Duggar was found guilty on two counts of receiving and possessing child pornography last December after which his lawyers, who maintained his innocence, had asked for a sentence of five years.

Per People, a judge today dropped one of the charges before sentencing today. Each count carried a maximum sentence of 20 years. His father Jim Bob and Josh’s wife, Anna, were in court today as well as his sister Joy-Anna (Duggar) Forsyth and brother Jason Duggar.




After being released, Duggar will be under mandated supervision for the next 20 years. He will not be allowed to have unsupervised contact with any children, including his own.

Further, he must take part in treatment for sex offenders, may not view pornography of any sort or possess any electronic devices with photo storage capacity of any kind. He will also be subject to random searches and polygraph tests.

https://deadline.com/2022/05/josh-duggar-convicted-child-porn-1234887891/

Joseph Duggar Arrested on Child Molestation Charges
by Derek Lawrence
March 18, 2026


Former "19 Kids and Counting" star Joseph Duggar has been arrested and charged with molesting a 9-year-old girl while on vacation, according to authorities.

In 2021, Duggar's older brother Josh was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography . He was subsequently sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.




The Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida announced Wednesday that Duggar, 31, of Arkansas, was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.

He is awaiting extradition to Panama City, where the alleged incident took place.




The sheriff's office alleged that during a family vacation in 2020, Duggar repeatedly asked the young girl to get on his lap, and when she sat next to him on a couch, he covered them with a blanket and "manipulated the victim's underwear and grazed her genitals."

Authorities said that the girl, now 14, recently came forward to police, saying that Duggar apologized for his actions at the time and then stopped. Investigators also alleged that the girl's father confronted Duggar on Tuesday, and that the former reality star admitted guilt to him and detectives.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to the Duggar family for comment.

https://ew.com/19-kids-and-counting-star-joseph-duggar-arrested-on-molestation-charges-11929545

Jim Bob Duggar Scolds Son Joseph for "Terrible Decisions" in Jailhouse E-mail
by Kathleen Perricone
April 3, 2026


Jim Bob Duggar, star of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting", tried to impart some fatherly love to his second incarcerated son.

Joseph Duggar was released from jail this week, after pleading not guilty to child molestation charges and posting a $600,000 bond. But during the two weeks he spent at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Ark., his father reportedly reached out to offer him support and a scolding.




“Mom & I love you very much,” Jim Bob wrote in an e-mail to Joseph, according to PEOPLE.

“You have made some terrible decisions, but God has already forgiven you if you have asked him,” Jim Bob continued. “You are just going to have to accept the situation at this point, and it’s also fine to pray that God would have mercy on you, but you’re probably gonna face a major consequences [sic] for several years to come.”




Jim Bob advises Joseph to “make lemonade out of lemons” during his time behind bars. The conservative Duggar Family are Independent Baptist Christians, and the patriarch suggested his son “point people to Christ even through the time you’re in jail and prison.”

Citing the biblical story of David — who had an affair with Bathsheba and then conspired to have her husband killed to cover it up — Jim Bob notes he “royally messed up, but he repented and became a man after God’s own heart.”

“We’ll keep praying for you.”

https://ew.com/joseph-duggar-father-scolds-him-for-terrible-decisions-amid-child-molestation-allegations-11942015