Trigger Warning: This story contains allegations of sexual assault involving a minor.
The Duggar family first rose to fame on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, where Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar showcased their large, faith-driven household. While the series leaned heavily into traditional values, the family’s image has taken repeated hits over the years.
The Duggar name has already been tied to a major scandal, as Josh Duggar is currently serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted on charges involving illegal material tied to minors. Now, the family is dealing with another situation involving a minor.
This time, it centers on Joseph Duggar. The allegations trace back to a 2020 beach trip in Florida, but didn’t come to light until much later.
Joseph Duggar is facing charges stemming from an alleged 2020 assault
Joseph, 31, is now facing charges tied to alleged conduct involving a minor, according to PEOPLE. The charges include 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,
Investigators say that during the trip, he encountered a 9-year-old girl traveling with her family. At one point, he asked her to sit with him. Authorities claim the interactions crossed a line.
According to investigators, “As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.” The Bay County Sheriff’s office added, “The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.”
The case didn’t surface publicly until years later. The accuser, now a teenager, participated in a forensic interview as part of a report of past misconduct. From there, police say her father confronted Joseph directly. Investigators claim he “allegedly admitted his actions to the father and Tontitown detectives.”
Joseph was arrested on March 18 and booked into a Washington County, Arkansas jail. For now, he remains there while officials work out the next step, which is expected to be extradition to Florida. No timeline for that process has been shared.
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, help is available by texting “STRENGTH” to 741-741 to reach a trained Crisis Text Line counselor.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON NEW DISTURBING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A MEMBER OF THE DUGGAR FAMILY SURFACING?
