Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar Break Silence After Son Joseph Duggar’s Child Molestation Arrest

Arkansas law enforcement released Joseph’s mugshot that same day, describing him as 5’9 and 206 lbs at the time of his arrest. In the mugshot, a bearded Joseph appears somber as he stares directly at the camera, wearing a dark gray T-shirt. As of publication, Joseph remains in custody in Arkansas ahead of extradition to Florida.

Two days later, news broke that the Counting On alum is charged with four additional counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree, and four counts of second degree false imprisonment, alongside wife Kendra Duggar. Kendra, 27, was arrested on March 20 for the same charges and released on bond the same day.

“[Kendra’s] is a misdemeanor charge totally unrelated to the Florida case,” a rep for the Duggar family told Us at the time.

Fans of 19 Kids and Counting and its spinoff show Counting On watched Joseph grow up over the course of the TLC reality shows. Counting On chronicled Joseph’s courtship and eventual marriage to Kendra. (Joseph and Kendra share four children: Garrett, 7, Addison, 6, Brooklyn, 5, and Justus, 3.)

The deeply religious Duggar family are no strangers to public controversy. In May 2015, Jim Bob and Michelle’s eldest child, son Josh Duggar, publicly apologized when he was accused in a police report of molesting five girls, two of whom were his sisters, when he was a teenager.

“I confessed [my actions] to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation,” Josh said at the time. “We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.”

His statement went on, “I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption.”

Josh was forced to apologize once again in August 2015, this time for cheating on his wife, Anna Duggar, when he was identified as a client of the infidelity dating service Ashley Madison as part of a data breach. (Josh and Anna share seven children.)

“I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife,” he wrote at the time. “I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.”

In 2021, Josh was convicted of receiving child sexual abuse material and sentenced to 12 years in prison. (Josh maintains his innocence and is actively appealing his conviction.)

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.