The Tontitown Police Department arrested Kendra Duggar on Friday, March 20, on multiple criminal charges involving minors, according to an official press release from the department. The 27-year-old was booked into the Washington County Detention Center and released the same day after posting bond.
Authorities charged Kendra Duggar with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree. Her husband, Joseph Duggar, 31, faces identical charges. The Tontitown Police Department issued the charges against both individuals simultaneously.
Law enforcement processed Kendra Duggar at the Washington County Detention Center at 4:56 p.m. on Friday. She was released at 6:19 p.m. after posting bond set at $1,470. Court records indicate she is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, March 23.
The arrest occurred two days after Joseph Duggar was taken into custody on Wednesday, March 18, at approximately 3 p.m. by the Tontitown Police Department. Joseph Duggar faces separate charges from the Bay County Sheriff's Office related to allegations of child molestation.
According to the Bay County Sheriff's Office, Joseph Duggar faces two charges: lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. A 14-year-old alleged victim reported that Joseph Duggar sexually abused her during a family vacation to Panama City Beach in 2020, when she was 9 years old.
Bay County police detailed the allegations in an official statement: "The victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. 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."
Joseph Duggar appeared in court on Friday via Zoom to address his extradition to Florida. The former reality television personality did not enter a plea and waived his right to an extradition hearing, agreeing to transfer to Florida to face the charges filed by Bay County authorities.
The couple married in September 2017 and have maintained a relatively private life since the cancellation of the reality television program Counting On in 2020. They are parents to four children: Garrett David, Addison Renee, Brooklyn Praise, and Justus Joseph, born in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, respectively.
This case marks the second instance of serious criminal charges within the Duggar family. Joseph Duggar's older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted of child pornography charges and sentenced to 151 months in federal prison in December 2021.
Neither Joseph Duggar nor Kendra Duggar have issued public statements regarding the charges. The legal proceedings continue with Kendra Duggar's court appearance scheduled for Monday and Joseph Duggar's pending extradition to Florida.
Individuals who suspect child abuse or need assistance can contact the Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.