Joe Duggar’s sister Jill shares ‘shocked’ reaction to his arrest on accusation of molesting nine-year-old

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Jill Duggar and her family were shocked to learn about the arrest of her brother, Joseph Duggar, who is facing accusations of child molestation.

Joseph, a father of four, was arrested Wednesday and accused of sexually touching a nine-year-old girl. The allegations involve inappropriate contact with her private areas.

A 31-year-old man, brother to convicted sex offender Josh Duggar, was arrested in Lynn Haven, Florida, on charges related to inappropriate sexual activity with a minor, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, shared news on their family blog yesterday evening that Jill’s brother, Joseph Duggar, had been arrested. They expressed their shock in the post.

We found out about the charges against him yesterday when a friend sent us a text about news reports of Joseph’s arrest. The reports said he confessed to harming a young girl in 2020, and we were both shocked and deeply saddened to hear this.

We firmly denounce this abuse and believe those responsible should be held accountable through the legal system. Our thoughts are with the young victim and her family during this incredibly difficult time.

The family shared their hope that she would find strength, comfort, and hope through this difficult time, and that she receives all the care and support she needs.

The Dillards shared their love and support for their sister-in-law, Kendra, and their four nieces and nephews, acknowledging the immense pain they must be experiencing and offering prayers during this difficult time.

The ceremony concluded with readings from two parts of the Bible: Isaiah, which urged people to ‘do good, seek justice, and help those who are oppressed,’ and a Psalm that offered comfort, stating that God is close to those who are hurting and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

According to People magazine, Joseph made this statement just before appearing in Arkansas court. There, he agreed to be sent to Florida to face charges, giving up his right to a full extradition hearing, which would have lasted only a minute.

On Wednesday, a Tontitown, Arkansas police investigator contacted the BCSO about a report of sexual abuse that happened in the past.

Police say a 14-year-old girl reported to authorities that Joseph Duggar was involved in several inappropriate incidents about five years ago.

Police say the incidents reportedly happened in 2020, when the victim was nine years old and vacationing with her family in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The Daily Mail has contacted the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for more information. A representative for the Duggar family said the family hadn’t released a public statement as of Wednesday night.

On Wednesday evening, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, made Duggar’s mugshot public.

The reality TV personality had grown a full beard and looked serious, a stark difference from the smiling mugshot of his brother, Josh, taken in Washington County in 2021.

The person who reported the incidents said their family was staying at a house on Danny Drive when they happened.

According to the BCSO, Joseph Duggar repeatedly asked a female companion to sit on his lap, and his actions seemed to become more insistent throughout the vacation.

In a separate instance, Joseph invited the victim to sit beside him on a couch and put a blanket over them, then rubbed his hands on their thighs.

‘During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.’

According to the BCSO, Duggar apologized to the person who claimed to be the victim, and the incidents stopped after that.

On Tuesday, the father of the person who reported the incident spoke with Joseph Duggar. According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Duggar admitted to what he did in front of the father and a detective in Tontitown.

Joseph Duggar was arrested and faced charges related to inappropriate behavior with a child under the age of 12. The charges involved both the act itself and the fact that he was an adult at the time.

Authorities with the BCSO said that Joseph Duggar is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County.

According to People magazine, Joseph was taken into custody at the Washington County jail around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

In a 2015 episode of Jill & Jessa: Counting On, Joseph expressed his shock and disbelief over the criminal behavior of his brother, Josh.

Joseph, who was twenty years old at the time, shared that none of them suspected his brother was keeping such a big secret. He said it was devastating to find out.

Joseph and Kendra have been married since September 2017 and have four children together, according to People magazine.

If you’ve experienced sexual abuse, you can get support by texting ‘STRENGTH’ to 741-741. This will connect you with a trained counselor at the Crisis Text Line.

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2026-03-20 18:19