Former reality TV star and convicted sex offender Josh Duggar has defended his brother Joseph Duggar, who was recently arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl.
Speaking through his lawyer from prison, Josh commented on Joseph’s arrest in Florida, expressing that he feels a similar “stigma” as his brother, who is 31.
According to Josh’s lawyer, “He lives with the painful reality of how a wrongful conviction can destroy a life. He understands how targeting people for publicity can twist truth into sensational fiction.”
Upon hearing about the allegations, Josh, who starred in “19 Kids and Counting,” expressed that he was “deeply saddened.” The accusations state that Joseph inappropriately touched the girl multiple times during a family trip to Destin, Florida, back in 2020.
Joseph is facing charges related to lewd acts, including unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
The girl, who is now 14, reported to detectives with the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas that Joseph had requested her to sit on his lap several times during the trip.
Additionally, it’s alleged that Joseph invited her to sit next to him on the couch and share a blanket, during which he “played with the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.” At the time, he was 25 years old, and it is claimed that he rubbed his hand on her thigh multiple times.
Ultimately, Duggar purportedly stopped the behavior and apologized to the girl, according to a report from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. On March 17, 2026, the girl’s father confronted Joseph after he allegedly admitted to the accusations during discussions with detectives.
Joseph is currently being held in Washington County, Arkansas, and is awaiting extradition to Bay County, Florida.
The brothers have not maintained regular contact since Josh was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2021 for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. Josh himself had faced serious allegations in the past, being accused of sexually abusing five girls, including his sisters Jill and Jessa, in the early 2000s. A 2006 investigation into these accusations did not lead to charges, and now the statute of limitations has expired.
As per current information, Josh is expected to be released from FCI Seagoville in Dallas, Texas, on December 23, 2032, but he is actively appealing his conviction.
Recent court documents reveal that he sought a new defense team, which was denied, prompting him to hire a lawyer from Chicago. In a 2015 episode of “Jill & Jessa: Counting On,” Joseph expressed support for Josh, reflecting on the trust he once had in him.
Josh Duggar comments on brother Joseph Duggar’s arrest for child molestation
Former reality TV star and convicted sex offender Josh Duggar has defended his brother Joseph Duggar, who was recently arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl.
Speaking through his lawyer from prison, Josh commented on Joseph’s arrest in Florida, expressing that he feels a similar “stigma” as his brother, who is 31.
According to Josh’s lawyer, “He lives with the painful reality of how a wrongful conviction can destroy a life. He understands how targeting people for publicity can twist truth into sensational fiction.”
Upon hearing about the allegations, Josh, who starred in “19 Kids and Counting,” expressed that he was “deeply saddened.” The accusations state that Joseph inappropriately touched the girl multiple times during a family trip to Destin, Florida, back in 2020.
Joseph is facing charges related to lewd acts, including unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
The girl, who is now 14, reported to detectives with the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas that Joseph had requested her to sit on his lap several times during the trip.
Additionally, it’s alleged that Joseph invited her to sit next to him on the couch and share a blanket, during which he “played with the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.” At the time, he was 25 years old, and it is claimed that he rubbed his hand on her thigh multiple times.
Ultimately, Duggar purportedly stopped the behavior and apologized to the girl, according to a report from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. On March 17, 2026, the girl’s father confronted Joseph after he allegedly admitted to the accusations during discussions with detectives.
Joseph is currently being held in Washington County, Arkansas, and is awaiting extradition to Bay County, Florida.
The brothers have not maintained regular contact since Josh was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2021 for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. Josh himself had faced serious allegations in the past, being accused of sexually abusing five girls, including his sisters Jill and Jessa, in the early 2000s. A 2006 investigation into these accusations did not lead to charges, and now the statute of limitations has expired.
As per current information, Josh is expected to be released from FCI Seagoville in Dallas, Texas, on December 23, 2032, but he is actively appealing his conviction.
Recent court documents reveal that he sought a new defense team, which was denied, prompting him to hire a lawyer from Chicago. In a 2015 episode of “Jill & Jessa: Counting On,” Joseph expressed support for Josh, reflecting on the trust he once had in him.
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