Joseph Duggar, sibling of Josh Duggar from TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, has been taken into custody and charged with “lewd and lascivious behavior” related to sexual misconduct with a minor.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida revealed on Wednesday that they have apprehended 31-year-old Joseph Garrett Duggar, charging him with inappropriate sexual conduct involving a minor.
In a statement from the sheriff’s office, a 14-year-old girl participated in a forensic interview, recounting several incidents with Duggar that allegedly took place during a family trip to Panama City Beach when she was just 9 years old.
The investigation indicates that these events happened in 2020, during which Duggar reportedly asked the young girl to sit on his lap and later beside him on a couch. The girl explained to authorities that he then covered them with a blanket.
Under the cover of the blanket, Duggar allegedly manipulated her underwear and touched her genitals, while also rubbing her thighs, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged victim informed authorities that following an apology from Duggar, these incidents ceased.
The girl’s father, however, later confronted the Counting On star about the alleged incidents on Tuesday, at which point Duggar “admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown Detectives,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Duggar was arrested out of state and charged with Lewd and Lascivious Behavior — Molestation of a Victim Less Than 12-years-old and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior Conducted By A Person 18 Years Or Older,” authorities added.
Notably, Duggar’s brother, Josh, was also arrested and charged with child sex crimes five years ago.
In 2021, Josh Duggar was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography. A federal jury in Arkansas later convicted the former reality TV star of downloading and possessing child pornography.
Joseph Duggar, who also appeared in 19 Kids and Counting, is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County, the sheriff’s office said.
Alana Mastrangelo is a reporter for – News. You can follow her on Facebook and X at @ARmastrangelo, and on Instagram.
