’19 Kids and Counting’ star Joseph Duggar arrested for alleged child molestation
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Joseph Garrett Duggar was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl years ago.
According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, the former “19 Kids and Counting” star was arrested and charged with molestation of a victim under the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious acts by a person 18 years of age or older.
The alleged victim, now 14, told investigators during a forensic interview that the allegations occurred in 2020 while she was on vacation with her family to Panama City Beach, Florida.
The former reality star allegedly asked the girl to sit on his lap during the vacation, then asked her to sit next to him and covered them both with a blanket, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
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Joseph Duggar with his wife Kendra. (Duggar Family/Instagram)
“Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs,” the office said. he said.
Authorities said Duggar later apologized for what he allegedly did to the girl and it stopped.
The sheriff’s office said the girl’s father confronted Duggar about the crimes on Tuesday, and Duggar admitted what he had done to him and police.
Duggar, who lives in Arkansas, is awaiting extradition to Florida.
Gore was jailed in Washington County, Arkansas. people magazine.
Joseph and his two brothers, 2016. L-R: John David Duggar, Josiah Duggar, Joseph Duggar (Disney General Entertainment Content via Ida Mae Astute/Getty Images)
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Duggar’s older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted in 2022 of possessing child sexual abuse materials and sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison.
Josh is expected to remain in prison until 2032 after his appeal for a new trial in 2023 failed.
Joseph Duggar with several of his siblings in 2016. (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images NeIda Mae Astute/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
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A federal jury in Arkansas found Josh, 38, guilty in December 2021 on charges related to receiving child pornography and possessing child pornography. He was sentenced to 151 months in prison in May 2022. Duggar was later transferred from the Washington County Jail in her home state of Arkansas to FCI Seagoville in Texas.
The allegations against Josh date back to 2006, after a family friend sent a tip to authorities that he was abusing his four sisters. However, the investigation ended due to the statute of limitations.
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The allegations resurfaced in 2015, leading to the cancellation of “19 Kids and Counting.” Josh apologized and sought treatment for his marital infidelity and pornography addiction at the time.
He is married to Anna Duggar and they share seven children.
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Yusuf is also married and has children.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Duggar family and the Bay County Sheriff’s Department for comment.
