FL - Second Duggar Son Joseph Garrett Duggar, 31, Arrested for Crimes Against a Minor, 18 March 2026

[anneoakley63]

On Wednesday, a 14-year-old contacted police about several incidents involving Duggar during a 2020 family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, when she was nine-years-old, police said.

Police added that the victim's father confronted Duggar about the incidents the day before his arrest, and Duggar admitted his actions to the father and to police in Tontitown.

Joseph Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting accused of molesting child


The victim, reportedly 9 at the time, just reported the incidents this week. I am not qualified to speak on sex abuse crimes involving children but I imagine not saying something initially (if ever sadly) is more common than we think. I cannot even imagine a young child trying to understand and sort out in their minds what the F was happening to them. The horror.

This is just stomach turning. I remember following Josh's case on here.

Random comment. I met Michelle Duggar in line years ago in an airport. She was on a book tour. That's what she told me. My dog sparked the conversation. She was so nice to me. I thought of her immediately seeing this vile news. IMO

Thank you for clarifying and you are correct that not saying something initially (or ever) is common. It took me almost 15 years and a near mental breakdown to say something and even then, most of my family turned on me. "He would NEVER do something like that!"......until 3 others came forward. Unfortunately he was dead by that time. But I've learned to live with it and be at peace for speaking out.

The guilt that most of these children carry is enormous. My hope is that this child will get counseling to help her handle things that will go through her mind and will have a strong support system.

I can't imagine being a spouse and having something like this thrown at me.

 

[anneoakley63]

Unfortunately, on some sites the identity of the victim has been shared.

There should be jail time and victim compensation for anyone who shares a minors information in a case like this.

 

[Tutter]

He was 26 when it happened. Hopefully this will quelle a lot of apologists chalking it up to teenage stuff like with their first felon.

I haven't hate read about the Duggars in years, but seeing the news I can only hope Jim Bob and Michelle are at least able to feel public humiliation despite having no real sense of shame or decency.

I believe he was also married and his wife was pregnant at the time this occurred.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Thank you for clarifying and you are correct that not saying something initially (or ever) is common. It took me almost 15 years and a near mental breakdown to say something and even then, most of my family turned on me. "He would NEVER do something like that!"......until 3 others came forward. Unfortunately he was dead by that time. But I've learned to live with it and be at peace for speaking out.

The guilt that most of these children carry is enormous. My hope is that this child will get counseling to help her handle things that will go through her mind and will have a strong support system.

I can't imagine being a spouse and having something like this thrown at me.

There is nothing more devastating to a child's heart and spirit then being SA'ed then to have the ones who are supposed to protect them not believe them.
I would think it was like being assaulted again.
I am so sorry that you experienced this horror and hopefully your family learned some damn hard lessons at your expense.

 

[mickey2942]

Josh Duggar Addresses Brother Joseph's Molestation Arrest

Josh Duggar is speaking out from behind bars after his brother Joseph Duggar was arrested for unlawful sexual activity with a minor

www.usmagazine.com

Sounds like Josh is still denying his situation in prison. So much for rehabilitation there. Zero.

 

[tlcya]

Josh Duggar Addresses Brother Joseph's Molestation Arrest

Josh Duggar is speaking out from behind bars after his brother Joseph Duggar was arrested for unlawful sexual activity with a minor

www.usmagazine.com

Sounds like Josh is still denying his situation in prison. So much for rehabilitation there. Zero.

he should probably sit down and STFU JMO

 

[K9Enzo]

So predator Josh, who admittedly is not in constant communication with his brother Joseph, is pretty much saying Joseph is a victim of being famous and these are lies for a sensationalized story. All lies. What a unredeemable soul. IMO

(Pssst, Josh, your brother admitted it was true. IMO The sheriff's office said the girl's father confronted Duggar about the alleged abuse on Tuesday. "Duggar admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown Detectives," the office said. Joseph Duggar, ex-'19 Kids and Counting' star, accused of molesting a minor)

Josh Duggar speaks out from jail via lawyer about brother Joseph's child sexual abuse allegations

The "19 Kids and Counting" star is currently in jail serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography.

www.yahoo.com

speaking via lawyer from jail, where he's serving a 12-year sentence for possessing child pornography, Josh's attorney told the Daily Mail that the allegation that his brother inappropriately touched a 9-year-old girl in 2020 "deeply saddened" him.

"Josh understands the stigma of being accused," the attorney told the publication. "He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction."

The attorney continued, noting that, while Josh and Joseph aren't in consistent communication, Josh "hopes and prays for his brother's well being in this difficult time."

 

[HerNameWasBuffy]

Josh Duggar Addresses Brother Joseph's Molestation Arrest

Josh Duggar is speaking out from behind bars after his brother Joseph Duggar was arrested for unlawful sexual activity with a minor

www.usmagazine.com

Sounds like Josh is still denying his situation in prison. So much for rehabilitation there. Zero.

Why is the press still giving him a platform?! Giving the monster another chance to proclaim his innocence in the press serves no one buy the predator and his enablers.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

The very idea of "19 kids and counting" never should have been celebrated. Rather it should have been seen as a huge red flag that things were seriously off with this family.

 

[K9Enzo]

Reality TV star Joseph Duggar waives extradition, will face a child molestation charge in Florida

Former reality TV star Joseph Duggar on Friday waived his right to an extradition hearing in Arkansas, which set in motion his transfer to Florida to face a child molestation charge.

www.wdbj7.com

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Former reality TV star Joseph Duggar on Friday waived his right to an extradition hearing in Arkansas, which set in motion his transfer to Florida to face a child molestation charge.

Duggar, 31, was arrested Thursday in Tontitown, Arkansas, where he lives with his family. Authorities in Bay County, Florida, now have 30 days to transfer him from the jail in Washington County, Arkansas, authorities said.

Joseph Duggar is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12 years old, according to an arrest affidavit from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Panama City, Florida.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Tontitown police officers contacted sheriff’s deputies in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday, saying they had interviewed a 14-year-old girl who told them that Duggar had molested her several times during a family trip to Panama City Beach when she was age 9, the affidavit said.

The child’s father confronted Duggar about the abuse this week, and the father said Duggar admitted to it, the affidavit said. Police officers in Tontitown had the father call Duggar with a detective on the line, and he again admitted to the actions.

There was no online court docket in Florida for Duggar on Friday. Nobody responded inquiries made Thursday and Friday on the Duggar family media request website.

The Tontitown Police Department said in a statement Thursday that the investigation remains open. The police department, located in a 4,300-person town in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, deferred further questions to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.

Reality TV star Joseph Duggar waives extradition, will face a child molestation charge in Florida

Former reality TV star Joseph Duggar on Friday waived his right to an extradition hearing in Arkansas, which set in motion his transfer to Florida to face a child molestation charge.

www.wdbj7.com

 

[COSCitizen]

And apparently the Tontitown police have continued to investigate. This seems to be a legitimate Arkansas news site:

New Charges

TONTITOWN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Tontitown police have now filed charges against Joseph Duggar, days after he was arrested.

Duggar, 31, is being held in the Washington County Detention Center.

Joseph Duggar, 31 (Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center)

TTPD told KNWA/FOX24 that Duggar is accused of four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, as well as four counts of second-degree false imprisonment.

 

[mickey2942]

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

False imprisonment, Florida Statutes. Felony.

Wonder if there will be more charges.

 

[QB2022]

https://www.nwahomepage.com/northwe...ng-charges-in-washington-county-what-we-know/ looks to be a warrant out for Kendra's arrest too. Same charges as the additional ones Joe has

 

[QB2022]

She's now in custody too

 

[mickey2942]

Wow. This is getting deep. And Kendra's charges are separate from the Florida incident. Goes back to my question the other day, about their children's safety.

 

[ReadySet]

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

False imprisonment, Florida Statutes. Felony.

Wonder if there will be more charges.

What could have happened? Having trouble coming up with scenario . What is your speculation?

 

[mkl9514]

What could have happened? Having trouble coming up with scenario . What is your speculation?

My theory: CPS tried to investigate them (given the nature of his charges) and she became defiant with them.

 

[QB2022]

I dont want to speculate on potential victims as they are children but it is 4 x 2 lots of charges. I wonder if when doing the standard investigation for the Florida charge something within their immediate family unit became apparent.

 

[Ruminations]

There is nothing more devastating to a child's heart and spirit then being SA'ed then to have the ones who are supposed to protect them not believe them.
I would think it was like being assaulted again.
I am so sorry that you experienced this horror and hopefully your family learned some damn hard lessons at your expense.

It can be extremely devastating to the adults who hear the report, and they don't want it to be true.

At the cost of further harming the child victim, adults push back on the reporter. They wish it weren't true. And sometimes, the acknowledgement of the abuse being true means turning several lives upside down.

Adult fear of major changes, loss of marriage, change in financial support system for the worse, for those married to an abuser. Huge legal bills for those supporting adult children. loss of esteem in social circles for being in a good marriage, or having raised a good child, or coming from a good family.

I am not making an excuse for adults not believing children; it's their job to protect children even when it's hard. But-it is hard.

MOO