Joseph Duggar, the former reality TV star known for his role in "19 Kids and Counting," has been arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior related to an alleged incident involving a 9-year-old girl from 2020. The arrest, made by the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas, follows a forensic interview in which the now-14-year-old child described the alleged misconduct during a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. Duggar, 31, is expected to be extradited to Bay County, Florida, to face the charge. Duggar, the seventh-oldest child in the Duggar family, gained national attention through the 15-season TLC series "19 Kids and Counting," which aired from 2008 to 2015. After the show's cancellation, he transitioned to real estate and married his wife, Kendra, in 2017. The couple has four children, and their relationship became public through the "Counting On" spin-off series. Prior to his marriage, Duggar attended Crown College, an independent Baptist Bible college in Powell, Tennessee, according to Christianity Today. Founded in 1991 by Baptist pastor Clarence Sexton, the college emphasizes training individuals to "follow the Lord Jesus Christ" and "fulfill His purpose" through education. The Duggar family has strong ties to Tennessee, where several episodes of "19 Kids and Counting" were filmed. Notable scenes include visits to Pigeon Forge, the Bates family’s farm in Rocky Top, and meetings with Dolly Parton at Dollywood. Jason Duggar, the family’s 12th child, also married in Newport, Tennessee, as reported by People Magazine. The family’s political involvement in Tennessee dates back to 2014, when they campaigned for Amendment 1, a proposed constitutional amendment to strengthen abortion restrictions.#panama_city_beach #joseph_duggar #tontitown_police_department #bay_county_florida #duggar_family
Jill Duggar Breaks Silence on Brother Joseph's Arrest for Child Molestation Jill Duggar Dillard, sister of Joseph Duggar, has publicly addressed the arrest of her brother following allegations of child molestation. The statement, released via the family’s website on March 19, came after Joseph was taken into custody earlier that week. The arrest followed a report of past sexual abuse involving a minor, which led to his formal charges. Joseph Duggar was arrested on March 18 and charged with Lewd and Lascivious Behavior, a crime that includes unlawful sexual activity with a minor. The charges stem from an alleged incident involving a 14-year-old victim, who disclosed during a forensic interview that Duggar had engaged in inappropriate conduct during a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, when she was 9 years old. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the victim reported that Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap and cover them with a blanket, after which he made contact with her thighs. The victim later stated that Duggar apologized and ceased the behavior. The case came to light after the victim’s father confronted Duggar on March 17, 2026, about the incidents. Duggar allegedly admitted his actions to the father and to Tontitown detectives, prompting his arrest out of state. He is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County, where he faces additional charges of Molestation of a victim under 12 and conduct by a person 18 or older. In their statement, Jill and her husband Derick expressed shock and heartbreak over the allegations. They condemned abuse and emphasized their support for the rule of law, while also offering prayers for the victim and her family.#bay_county #childhelp_national_child_abuse_hotline #panama_city_beach #joseph_duggar #jill_duggar_dillard
Joseph Duggar of ‘19 Kids and Counting’ Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges Joseph Duggar, a former star of the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, was arrested in Arkansas and is awaiting extradition to Florida, where authorities allege he molested a 9-year-old girl in 2020. The sheriff’s office in Bay County, Florida, stated that Duggar, 31, engaged in “unlawful sexual activity” with the girl in Panama City Beach, Florida, during that time. The victim, now 14, reported the assault to police in Tontitown, Arkansas, prompting an investigation that confirmed the incident occurred in Florida. A warrant for Duggar’s arrest was issued, and he remains in custody pending extradition. Duggar was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years old and with lewd and lascivious behavior by an adult. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office noted that the girl told investigators Duggar “eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.” It is unclear if Duggar has legal representation, and the Duggar family has not yet commented on the allegations. Duggar gained fame through 19 Kids and Counting, a TLC series that followed his family’s life in Arkansas. The show ran from 2008 to 2015, becoming one of TLC’s most popular programs. However, the series was removed from air in 2015 after allegations emerged that the family’s eldest son, Josh Duggar, had molested multiple girls as a teenager. While no criminal charges were filed against Josh at the time, the Duggar parents later told Fox News that four of the five girls involved were his sisters. Josh Duggar faced legal consequences in 2022 when he was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for downloading child sexual abuse material.#joseph_duggar #19_kids_and_counting #bay_county_sheriff_office #tontitown_arkansas #panama_city_beach
