Former reality TV star Joseph Duggar is facing a child molestation charge in Florida, almost five years after his brother Josh, who also starred in the TLC show “19 Kids and Counting,” was convicted of downloading child sexual abuse images.
Joseph Duggar, 31, was arrested in Arkansas, where he lives, and is awaiting extradition to Florida. Duggar is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12 years old, based on an arrest affidavit from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Panama City, Florida.
According to police, a 14-year-old girl revealed during an interview that Duggar had molested her on several occasions during a family trip to Panama City Beach when she was just 9 years old. The investigation began after the girl’s father confronted Duggar, who reportedly admitted to the actions during a phone call with law enforcement present.
Authorities indicated that the investigation is ongoing and the Tontitown Police Department directed further inquiries to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
There is currently no information available on Duggar's legal representation.
The Duggar family rose to fame through TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” which depicted their lives, but the show was canceled in 2015 following allegations against Josh Duggar involving the molestation of several minors. He is currently serving a prison sentence for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images.
