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

[MarciB]

Duggar Family feels that they are being 'persecuted' by arrests

The former reality TV family is reeling from a second brother being charged with sex abuse, and are privately speculating that the arrests are a result of Satanic persecution

www.dailymail.co.uk

Zero personal responsibility.

criminals and their enablers love to play the victim

 

[mickey2942]

criminals and their enablers love to play the victim

Yes. And they discuss every single thing, except for the actual illegal act. Point fingers everywhere.

But, the actual issue is criminal behavior. Which they will never address.

 

[Knox]

Ahh yes, throw that old Chrisitan persecution card and Chrisitans who lack discernment fall for it very time.
imo

"The insider said some relatives believe the controversy reflects long-standing warnings from patriarch Jim Bob Duggar.

'He's always said the world would be hostile to them. That following Christ means the enemy will try to attack,' they said."

Agree 100%. So many Christians confuse discernment with judgement. Without it, you’re very vulnerable to questionable theology, IMO.

The world isn’t hostile to the Duggar family because they follow Jesus, it’s their lack of accountability which is being scrutinized. Then making deflective statements about how they are being persecuted in His name. This kind of behavior is the epitome of a religious cult, IMO.

 

[MrsWatson]

'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.'

None of these are "false accusations". One is in prison for it and one admitted it.

Never let facts get in the way, though. Might lead to some reflections of what could have caused this behavior and then they'd have to actually take responsibility.

I have a feeling this is not going to be the last we hear about this family and their apparent proclivities.

MOO

 

[whinewiththegravy]

lol.

And, so what if satan was an influence?

If the devil makes you do a crime, that doesn't mean the devil does your time.

MOO

Invoking a force otherwordly and monstrous reinforces a world view in which sometimes and by design the self-styled righteous lack all agency (look wot Goody Proctor made me do!) at the exact moment their own fondest desires or impulses butt up against another person's autonomy. Even then, the real victim is not the recipient of violence, predation, or manipulation, but the extensions of the offender: HIS Family, HIS church, HIS community. The offense is characterized as a moral failure. The tragedy belongs not to the victim, a disposable non-entity, but to the offender's reputation and standing.

All is rendered in the passive voice and subjunctive mood; something, arguably bad or maybe actually natural, may have happened to someone else, but who can tell who was provoked into doing what or why and to whom? It's like a nightmare parody of the worst kind of relativism, a view from nowhere where nothing can be judged immoral because even the basic facts are intentionally not agreed upon.

Moreover, any attempt at characterizing reality, pinning down facts, much less imparting responsibility or asking the offender to make amends feeds into their Accidentally, Like a Martyr victim fantasies. To speak frankly of what really happened is shameful, vulgar, and base.

It's an incredibly and obviously cynical approach to outsiders but reaches just fine and dandy its intended audience, other cult members and their powerful, well-heeled allies. Fodder for future culture wars coming and going. Hark, an imperfect patriarchal vessel; mark, this fallen underage agent of Satan!

 

[tlcya]

lol.

And, so what if satan was an influence?

If the devil makes you do a crime, that doesn't mean the devil does your time.

MOO

it's not that they are even saying the devil made him do it, which would acknowledge it even happened, it's the notion that somehow the devil made people make up these things to "persecute" this family I think, which IMO is even more offensive.

 

[starlightstarbright]

it's not that they are even saying the devil made him do it, which would acknowledge it even happened, it's the notion that somehow the devil made people make up these things to "persecute" this family I think, which IMO is even more offensive.

Even more offensive because we have reason to believe that most of the victims of this abuse (exception being those in Josh’s CSAM) were also members of the same family. It’s like saying, the devil is causing our family to be persecuted in these Satanic wars…while somehow completely skirting around the fact that the people who reported the abuse are also members of the same family.

What is the saying? “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” When we talk about ‘the family’ we don’t really mean all the individual members of the family. We mean the important ones and we mean “the family” as a system which works only for the benefit of those certain individuals. IMO

 

[Ruminations]

I’m disappointed that the relative used soft language to express their feelings.

“Horrifying,” yes, great description. But “embarrassing” and “really, really sad?” To describe a despicable crime against a 9 year old child? Nope.

Grow the heck up Duggars: stop denying your ownership in raising twisted children who abuse children. Didn’t God give you all brains to think about your actions and recognize the hurt you’re causing innocents to endure, all in his name?
JMO

Another quote from the article:

After the arrest, Josh's attorney told the Daily Mail that the charges against his brother 'deeply saddened' him.

'Josh understands the stigma of being accused,' his attorney told the Daily Mail.

'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.'

I get that when something awful occurs, it can be a adjustment to accept how awful it is, and what looks like minimizing MIGHT be adjusting to the reality,

I also get that the family is in a fish bowl, which adds stress. But 1) They choose to live in a fish bowl, feeling so superior that they felt others should see how superior they are, and the fishbowl life filled Joe's parents' pockets, 2) Joe's Florida alleged crime is serious enough that it very well may have made headlines, at the very least in Florida and Arkansas, even if he were completely unknown.

But when they start to underplay the seriousness of the crime and complain about themselves, it begins to feel not like they are gradually adjusting, or not just reacting to their sincere stress, which remains genuine even when self-created. It begins to feel like they are ignoring the real victim and the real harm and the real work that needs to be done for the victim, and to prevent future victims.

MOO

 

[momsof3]

I am not defending her or her spouse. But it appears that the law is applied unequally. After all, Jana Duggar was charged, and arrested based on a child wandering off. Heck, we have seen kids out wandering around, no one gets charged and booked.

Apply the law equally to everyone.

I agree that the law is applied to the unequally but for the exact opposite reason! I was shocked that Joe was so quickly arrested. Unlike Josh who was able to face zero ramifications for his criminal behavior for many years before he was arrested! I actually checked the state Joe was arrested in because to me, it seems like law enf bent over backward for Josh just based on his family name. Go Florida!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I agree that the law is applied to the unequally but for the exact opposite reason! I was shocked that Joe was so quickly arrested. Unlike Josh who was able to face zero ramifications for his criminal behavior for many years before he was arrested! I actually checked the state Joe was arrested in because to me, it seems like law enf bent over backward for Josh just based on his family name. Go Florida!

Yeah, we tend to kick butt & take names down here. There’s a couple of Sheriffs that have made quite a name for themselves. (Grady Judd, Micheal Chitwood)

I did see Bay County, where PCB is located, has started putting out the media shouts too. Spring Break starts there today. My oldest lives in PCB, and they don’t mess around.

 

[HarmonyE.]

Jason Duggar (not sure which son he is, but I think he's somewhere in the pack of a bunch of middle boys) issued this statement. Packed with fundie speech, but a strong statement nevertheless:

 

[tlcya]

Joseph Duggar spoke with wife Kendra Duggar in a call from the Washington County Detention Facility on March 20 that was obtained by PEOPLE

Joseph told Kendra that he is spending 23 hours a day in solitary confinement and that he is often reading the Bible during his time behind bars

The call between the two occurred less than two hours after Kendra was released from the same facility after being charged with four counts each of false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child
https://people.com/joseph-duggar-solitary-confinement-jail-call-wife-kendra-exclusive-11936203

 

[HarmonyE.]

Joseph Duggar spoke with wife Kendra Duggar in a call from the Washington County Detention Facility on March 20 that was obtained by PEOPLE

Joseph told Kendra that he is spending 23 hours a day in solitary confinement and that he is often reading the Bible during his time behind bars

The call between the two occurred less than two hours after Kendra was released from the same facility after being charged with four counts each of false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child
https://people.com/joseph-duggar-solitary-confinement-jail-call-wife-kendra-exclusive-11936203

Oohh. Ahhh. Wow. Really? In her best fundie wife baby voice. So gross.

 

[TMich6811]

I said this before but I do find it telling that those speaking out are supporting the truth if the crime and not the criminal

 

[mickey2942]

https://people.com/joseph-duggar-solitary-confinement-jail-call-wife-kendra-exclusive-11936203

Joseph Duggar is in Solitary Confinement, probably for his own safety. He says he just reads his bible all day long. Well, he is gonna have a lot of time for bible reading.

I guess he will get a bail hearing. It isn't like he can go home...with all of the children in the Duggar homes.

There must be something, two sons incarcerated.

 

[COSCitizen]

JosephD is apparently on his way to Florida:

 

[MsMarple]

New articles:

• Kendra Duggar is staying at a 'private' residence with her children after being released from an Arkansas detention facility on March 20
• She told her husband Joseph about the hideaway during a jail phone call he made to his wife on March 20
• Kendra and Joseph's home was searched by police and state agents on March 19, which led to the couple being charged with endangering the welfare of a child and false imprisonment, police said

Joseph spoke with Kendra at 8:11 p.m. on March 20, after failing to get in contact with her the first two times he called his wife.

"Did you hear that I'm out here with, um, did you hear where I'm at and everything?" Kendra asks Joseph on the call.

Joseph then tells Kendra he does not think they should say where she is, and while she at first seems to dismiss that thought she ultimately does not reveal her location.

"They brought me to a good place to stay that's very private," Kendra says.

https://people.com/kendra-duggar-hiding-out-in-private-residence-with-children-exclusive-11936445

More at the link.

The owner of the home where Joseph Duggarallegedly molested a child did not know about the incidents and ongoing investigation.
…
The homeowner exclusively told Us that he has not received any phone calls from the police at this time. However, he believed the rental's property management company might have more information and said he planned to contact them.

Homeowner Unaware of Alleged Joseph Duggar Incidents

The owner of the rental says he was unaware of the Joseph Duggar arrest and investigation and had not been contacted by police about the allegations

www.usmagazine.com

According to records listed on Homes.com, Duggar has sold more than $37 million in properties over the last five years alone.

He sold over $8 million in the last year and doubled that number if measured over the past two years.

One of Duggar’s active listings appears to be more than 33 acres of prime development property in Springdale, Arkansas. Currently listed at $15 million, the property is described as being “poised to be a prime development location.”

Inside Joseph Duggar's Real Estate Empire Before His Arrest

Before Joseph Duggar made headlines for his legal troubles, the former 'Counting On' star was finding success in the real estate world

www.usmagazine.com

 

[Ruminations]

New articles:

• Kendra Duggar is staying at a 'private' residence with her children after being released from an Arkansas detention facility on March 20
• She told her husband Joseph about the hideaway during a jail phone call he made to his wife on March 20
• Kendra and Joseph's home was searched by police and state agents on March 19, which led to the couple being charged with endangering the welfare of a child and false imprisonment, police said

Joseph spoke with Kendra at 8:11 p.m. on March 20, after failing to get in contact with her the first two times he called his wife.

"Did you hear that I'm out here with, um, did you hear where I'm at and everything?" Kendra asks Joseph on the call.

Joseph then tells Kendra he does not think they should say where she is, and while she at first seems to dismiss that thought she ultimately does not reveal her location.

"They brought me to a good place to stay that's very private," Kendra says.

https://people.com/kendra-duggar-hiding-out-in-private-residence-with-children-exclusive-11936445

More at the link.

The owner of the home where Joseph Duggarallegedly molested a child did not know about the incidents and ongoing investigation.
…
The homeowner exclusively told Us that he has not received any phone calls from the police at this time. However, he believed the rental's property management company might have more information and said he planned to contact them.

Homeowner Unaware of Alleged Joseph Duggar Incidents

The owner of the rental says he was unaware of the Joseph Duggar arrest and investigation and had not been contacted by police about the allegations

www.usmagazine.com

According to records listed on Homes.com, Duggar has sold more than $37 million in properties over the last five years alone.

He sold over $8 million in the last year and doubled that number if measured over the past two years.

One of Duggar’s active listings appears to be more than 33 acres of prime development property in Springdale, Arkansas. Currently listed at $15 million, the property is described as being “poised to be a prime development location.”

Inside Joseph Duggar's Real Estate Empire Before His Arrest

Before Joseph Duggar made headlines for his legal troubles, the former 'Counting On' star was finding success in the real estate world

www.usmagazine.com

I haven't listened to these, or read every tabloid. But I have read some, and it seems to me that they never talk about the kids' well being. At all. I read Joe wasn't sleeping well. How are the kids sleeping? Nobody was sick? Nobody did something cute? Nobody learned a new skill? Okay, reading the bible is helping get Joe through his new circumstances, but are the kids getting through theirs?

MOO

 

[Izzylizzy]

1 hour ago
Lauren

 

[mickey2942]

These gals, could learn a lot from Subway Jared Fogle's wife, Kate McLaughlin. The minute she found out about his "dual" life, and lies, she divorced him, and had his parental rights severed. I really don't see how you could even continue a relationship with a pedophile.

Jared Fogle's ex-wife on his sex crimes: "He had two lives going on"

Katie McLaughlin says she didn't know the ex-Subway pitchman was a pedophile until FBI knocked on her door, but is suing the sandwich chain for negligence

www.cbsnews.com