Former reality television figure Joseph Duggar on Friday waived his right to an extradition hearing in Arkansas, clearing the way for his transfer to Florida to face a charge accusing him of sexually abusing a child, authorities said.
Duggar, 31, was arrested Thursday in Tontitown, Arkansas, where he lives with his family. Authorities in Bay County, Florida, now have up to 30 days to transfer him from the Washington County jail in Arkansas, officials said.
On Thursday night, Duggar’s sister, Jill and her family broke their silence on the accusations in a post on the Dillard Family blog, writing, “We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest.”
Jill’s family’s post added, “We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.”
The message continued, “We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family,” adding, “We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”
According to an arrest affidavit from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Panama City, Florida, Duggar is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a child under the age of 12.
The case stems from allegations made by a now-14‑year‑old girl, who told police that Duggar molested her several times during a family trip to Panama City Beach when she was 9, the affidavit said. Tontitown police officers contacted authorities in the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday after interviewing the girl, according to the document.
The girl’s father confronted Duggar about the alleged abuse earlier this week, and the father told police that Duggar admitted to the conduct, the affidavit said. Investigators later had the father place a phone call to Duggar while a detective listened, during which Duggar again admitted to the actions, authorities said.
There was no online court docket available in Florida for Duggar on Friday. No one responded to inquiries made Thursday and Friday through the Duggar family’s media request website.
The Tontitown Police Department said in a statement Thursday that the investigation remains open but deferred further questions to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Duggar’s arrest comes nearly five years after his older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted in federal court of receiving and possessing images depicting child sexual abuse and sentenced in 2022 to about 12 1/2 years in prison.
The Duggar family rose to national prominence through the TLC reality television series 19 Kids and Counting, which followed the lives of parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children, all of whom have names beginning with the letter “J.”
TLC canceled the show in 2015 following allegations that Josh Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter years earlier. Josh Duggar’s parents said at the time that he had confessed to the fondling and apologized.
Joseph Duggar’s case will proceed in Florida once he is transferred, authorities said.
Who Are Joseph Duggar’s Kids?
Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Duggar, have four children together. They are parents to sons Garrett, 7, and Justus, 3, and daughters Addison, 6, and Brooklyn, 5. The couple married in 2017 and have largely kept their children out of the public spotlight in recent years, after previously appearing on TLC’s reality series Counting On.
Who Is Kendra Duggar?
Kendra Duggar, born Kendra Caldwell, is Joseph Duggar’s wife and a former reality TV personality who appeared on TLC’s Counting On. She married Joseph Duggar in 2017 after a brief courtship and comes from a similarly conservative Christian background. Kendra is the daughter of a Baptist pastor and has primarily been known publicly for her role as a mother and homemaker within the Duggar family. She has not publicly commented on her husband’s arrest.
Duggar Family Tree Explained
The Duggar family rose to fame through the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting, which followed Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children. Several of the Duggar children later appeared on the spinoff Counting On. The family has remained in the public eye amid multiple scandals, including the conviction of eldest son Josh Duggar and the recent arrest of Joseph Duggar.
