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Arrest and charges
Joseph Duggar, a former star of the TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting, was taken into custody on Wednesday on accusations of sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl. The Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida stated that the 31-year-old faces charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Incident details
According to authorities, a 14-year-old girl reported multiple incidents that allegedly occurred during a 2020 family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, when she was nine. The victim told investigators that Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap and touched her thighs, underwear, and genitals while they were on a couch.
The sheriff's office noted that Duggar apologized for his actions and stopped the behavior after the apology.
Confrontation and admission
Police said the victim's father confronted Duggar about the incidents the day before his arrest. During questioning by Tontitown, Arkansas, police, Duggar admitted to the allegations, authorities confirmed.
Family history and show cancellation
Joseph Duggar appeared on 19 Kids and Counting from 2008 until 2015, when the show was canceled following revelations of molestation allegations against his older brother, Josh Duggar, involving five children, including four of his sisters. Josh Duggar is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for receiving and possessing child sex abuse images.
The Duggar family gained fame through the reality series, which chronicled the lives of parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar as they raised their 19 children, all of whose names begin with the letter J.
Extradition and next steps
Duggar was arrested in Tontitown, Arkansas, and will be extradited to Bay County, Florida, where the charges were filed. He is married to Kendra Duggar and has several children.
