Former ’19 Kids and Counting’ star Joseph Duggar arrested for alleged molestation of 9-year-old child
Duggar is currently awaiting extradition to Florida and is being held in the Washington County jail in Arkansas
Joseph Duggar, a former star of the reality TV show 19 Kids and Counting, was arrested on March 18, 2026, for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl during a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2020.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office charged him with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. According to the sheriff’s office, Duggar asked the girl to sit on his lap and then covered them with a blanket, where he allegedly manipulated her underwear and touched her genitals.
The victim, now 14, reported the incident during a forensic interview, and Duggar’s father confronted him about the allegations. Duggar reportedly apologized and admitted to his actions.
Duggar, 31, is currently awaiting extradition to Florida and is being held in the Washington County jail in Arkansas. His brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted in 2022 of possessing child sex abuse material and is serving a 12-year prison sentence.
The Duggar family’s history of controversy has been under scrutiny, with Josh’s case drawing significant attention. Joseph’s arrest has sparked renewed interest in the family’s past.
The investigation into Joseph Duggar’s alleged actions is ongoing. The sheriff’s office has released few details about the case, but the allegations have shocked fans of the family’s reality show.
Joseph Duggar’s wife and children have also been affected by the allegations, though no further information has been released about their current situation.
