Joseph Duggar’s bail was set at $600,000 at his first court appearance Tuesday, nearly two weeks after he was arrested and charged with child sexual abuse.
During his arraignment in Bay County, Florida, Duggar’s attorney asked that the “Counting On” star be treated fairly despite his status as a television personality.
“The family is asking for the most reasonable bond…to be treated fairly, like anyone else, regardless of their position in the television industry,” the lawyer said.
Prosecutors asked the judge for a “significant” bail amount, and the judge asked that he “have no contact with the victim or any minors.”
The “19 Kids and Counting” alum was taken into custody in Arkansas on March 18th.
The former reality star was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a victim under the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious acts with a victim over the age of 18.
The day before, the 31-year-old admitted to the alleged victim’s father that he sexually abused the then-9-year-old boy in 2020, according to the affidavit.
Duggar allegedly touched the child under a blanket, repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap, and later apologized for his actions.
The former TLC personality was in his third year of marriage with wife Kendra Duggar at the time.
The couple have son Garrett, 7, daughter Addison, 6, and daughter Brooklyn, 5, as well as a fourth baby whose name and age have not yet been revealed.
Kendra, 27, was arrested on March 20th.
She and Joseph were both charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment over a room with a lock on the outside of the doorknob.
Kendra, who was released later that day, did not visit her partner at the Washington County Correctional Facility ahead of her extradition to Florida.
However, she spoke to him on the phone many times.
During the March 20 conversation, Kendra said she had hired an attorney, Travis Story, and made it clear to Joseph that the attorney was for her.
Storey also represented Josh Duggar in the 2021 child pornography trial that ultimately led to the 38-year-old’s conviction.
Although Joshua issued a statement defending his brother earlier this month, many in his family have criticized him.
Just recently, a “heartbroken” Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar broke their silence about their “difficult times” and stressed that they are “focused” on “helping Kendra” who is hiding in a “top secret location.”
