Joseph Garrett Duggar, a former reality television personality, was arrested by the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas on Wednesday, March 18, following allegations of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. The 31-year-old, who previously appeared on the program Counting On, faces multiple charges stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred during a family vacation in 2020.
According to the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida, Duggar has been charged with 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. The charges relate to allegations that occurred in Panama City Beach, Florida.
The Tontitown Police Department confirmed they received information from Bay County investigators regarding an allegation of past sexual abuse. According to the investigation, a now-14-year-old victim reported that Duggar sexually abused her during the family vacation when she was 9 years old.
Bay County police detailed the allegations in a press release, stating that the victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. The release further indicated that as the vacation continued, he allegedly asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, authorities state, Duggar manipulated the victim's underwear and grazed her genitals, while also rubbing his hands on her thighs.
According to the press release, Duggar was confronted by the girl's father, at which point Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents ceased following the apology. Duggar is presently awaiting extradition to Bay County.
Duggar and his wife, Kendra Duggar, 27, share four children. The couple married in Arkansas in September 2017, with Kendra's father, Pastor Paul Caldwell, serving as the officiant. They maintained an Instagram account for their family from February 2019 until November 2021, when they ceased posting updates. Their final post, published on November 3, 2021, celebrated their daughter Addison's second birthday.
The Duggar family has maintained a low profile in recent years. This latest development follows previous legal troubles within the family. Joseph Duggar's older brother, Josh Duggar, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in 2022 for receiving child sexual abuse material. Josh Duggar continues to appeal his conviction while serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Seagoville, Texas.
Prior to his imprisonment, Josh Duggar addressed a 2015 police report in which he was accused of molesting five girls, four of whom were his sisters, when he was a teenager. In a statement at that time, he acknowledged acting inexcusably and stated that he confessed to his parents and authorities, receiving counseling along with those affected by his actions.
The Duggar family has not yet issued a public statement regarding Joseph Duggar's arrest. The case underscores the serious nature of child protection and the importance of reporting suspected abuse to appropriate authorities.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).