Jill Duggar, alongside her husband Derick Dillard, has reacted to the news of her brother Joseph being arrested on Wednesday, March 18, on accusations of behaving inappropriately with a 9-year-old in 2020.
The siblings starred together on the hit TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting between 2008 and 2015, which followed their conservative parents, Jim and Michelle, as well as their other brothers and sisters.
The victim, now 14, was on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach, Florida, when Duggar allegedly violated her.
The former reality star’s arrest came after the girl’s father confronted him about his actions on Tuesday in his home state of Arkansas, where he admitted his wrongdoing in front of a local detective.
Joseph Duggar’s sister and brother-in-law issued a statement a day after his arrest
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Joseph “repeatedly” asked the victim “to sit on his lap,” according to a press release issued by Florida’s Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
His behavior allegedly escalated over the course of the vacation, including asking the victim to “sit next to him on a couch” and covering them with a blanket before allegedly manipulating her underwear and grazing her private part.
Image credits: Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Duggar apologized to the victim after the latter incident, and the matter ceased at that point, according to officials.
The case was formally reported when the victim participated in a forensic interview earlier this month, after which the Tontitown Police Department (Arkansas) contacted the BCSO regarding the allegations.
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A post uploaded on Jill’s family blog on Thursday read, “We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest.”
The announcement explained that the family got to know about Joseph’s arrest after a friend called them to ask about reports in the media.
“We are shocked and heartbroken,” the blog expressed, before going on to say, “We condemn ab**e. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family.”
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The response continued: “We pray God gives her strength, comfort, and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”
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Jill and her husband also kept Joseph’s wife, Kendra, and their four children in their thoughts, adding they pray for them to “feel loved and supported during this difficult time.”
They closed the post with two passages from the Bible.
The first, from Isaiah, read: “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression.”
The second, from Psalms, added: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed spirit.”
Joseph is currently awaiting extradition to Florida
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Duggar made his first court appearance in Arkansas on the morning of March 20, where he waived his right to an extradition hearing, paving the way for his transfer to Florida for further investigation.
He appeared before Judge Taylor Samples via Zoom, with the hearing lasting only a minute, according to People.
Image credits: TLC
Joseph was wearing a gray and white prison jumpsuit. His hair was slicked back, and he had a beard and a mustache.
He is expected to be charged with “lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, conducted by a person 18 years or older,” according to the BCSO.
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There is also a possibility that Joseph could face additional charges in Arkansas, as Tontitown Police Department Chief Corey Jenison told People his investigation remains “open” in the state.
Joseph Duggar’s scandal comes years after his elder brother Josh’s arrest and sentencing
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Josh Duggar was arrested for possession of child p**nography in 2021.
He was convicted later that year and, in 2022, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison, which he is currently serving.
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Before that, in 2015, it was revealed that Josh had inappropriately touched four of his sisters and a babysitter when he was a teen.
He also admitted to cheating on his wife, Anna, and shared a public apology that same year.
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Joseph addressed his brother’s actions on an episode of a spin-off of 19 Kids and Counting titled Jill & Jessa: Counting On, soon after.
“It broke my heart,” he said, adding he was surprised by his brother’s “secret life.”
“Something is very wrong with this family,” a netizen remarked
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