Joseph Duggar, who appeared with his family on the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting,” was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl.
His arrest comes years after his brother Josh Duggar was accused of sexually abusing five underage girls, including four of his younger sisters. Josh Duggar was arrested in 2021 on charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material, was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
On Wednesday, the Bay County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office announced in a statement on Facebook that Joseph Duggar, 31, was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct involving unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He was arrested by Tontitown, Arkansas police in 2020 after a 14-year-old girl reported several incidents while on vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, to police when she was 9 years old. Police said Duggar is awaiting extradition to Bay County.
According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the victim alleged that “Mr. Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. As the vacation continued, he also told her to sit next to her on the couch and put a blanket over her. During that time, Mr. Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Mr. Duggar also continued to rub his hands on her thighs.”
The victim said Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incident stopped after the apology. Police said the victim’s father confronted Joseph Dugger the day before his arrest, and he admitted his actions to both the father and investigators.
“19 Kids and Counting,” which aired from 2008 to 2015, followed the devout Independent Baptist family of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar and their 19 children (all of whose names begin with the letter “J”). It was canceled after the accusations surrounding Josh Duggar came to light. The spinoff “Counting On,” which depicts several adult family members getting married and starting families, aired from 2015 to 2021 but was canceled after Josh Duggar’s arrest.
