Police arrested former 19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar on Wednesday on allegations of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a vacation in Florida six years ago. He is currently being held at the Washington County jail in Arkansas and is awaiting extradition to Bay County.
Joseph Duggar charged with allegedly ‘lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old’
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office made an official announcement on Wednesday, confirming that Joseph Duggar is facing charges related to alleged lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, as well as alleged lewd and lascivious conduct by a person 18 years or older.
According to authorities, the now 14-year-old girl was on vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. This was in 2020 with her family when the alleged incident occurred. In a forensic interview, the victim told investigators that Duggar had repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap.
In the statement, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office continued, “As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and allegedly grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.”
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office further added, “The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized for his actions, and the incidents stopped after the apology. Investigators discovered the victim’s father confronted Duggar about these incidents on March 17th, 2026.”
According to the statement, Duggar reportedly “admitted to his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown Detectives.”
The Duggar family gained national attention after appearing in the TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting. The show centered on Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar and their 19 children.
Joseph Duggar is not the first member of the family to face criminal charges. His older brother Josh Duggar previously admitted to molesting several minor girls, including his sisters Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald, when they were teenagers. The scandal prompted TLC to cancel the show in 2015. Six years later, he was arrested and convicted on charges related to possession of child sexual abuse material.
