Joseph Duggar reportedly broke down in tears and pleaded for “fair” treatment in court as a judge imposed strict conditions related to an alleged child sexual abuse case.
Joseph Duggar begged to be treated “fairly” despite being a television star during his first court appearance Tuesday — nearly two weeks after being arrested on child molestation charges.
“He’s asking to be treated as fairly as anyone else, regardless of his status in the television industry,” the “Counting On” star’s lawyer said during the arraignment in Bay County, Florida.
His lawyer also said that Duggar’s family is “asking for the most reasonable bond.”
“He has no criminal history whatsoever,” the lawyer said.
The prosecutor from the State Attorney’s Office explained that the allegations are “a serious charge against the child.”
“We ask there be a no contact in place with the victim, as well as no contact with any minors,” the prosecutor said. “While he doesn’t have a criminal history and no ties to the community… he was on vacation and stayed here a short period of time… We ask for a substantial bond.”
Duggar’s bond was set at $600,000. He entered a written plea of not guilty, Us Weekly reported.
The judge also ordered Duggar to have “no contact with the alleged victim” and “no unsupervised contact with any minors under the age of 18.”
Page Six exclusively obtained Duggar’s mugshot Tuesday after he was extradited to Bay County jail from the Washington County Correctional Facility in Arkansas. He was seen smirking and his hair was messy in the booking photo.
“19 Kids and Counting” alum was detained on March 18 in Arkansas.
The former reality star was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than the age of 12, as well as lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person age 18 or older.
According to an affidavit, the 31-year-old admitted to his alleged victim’s father the previous day that he molested the then-9-year-old in 2020.
Duggar allegedly touched the child beneath a blanket, repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap — and later apologized for his behavior.
The ex-TLC personality was three years into his and wife Kendra Duggar’s marriage at the time.
The couple are the parents of son Garrett, 7, daughter Addison, 6, daughter Brooklyn, 5, and a fourth baby whose name and age they have yet to reveal.
Kendra, 27, was arrested on March 20.
She and Joseph were both charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment reportedly over rooms with locks on the outside of the doorknob.
Kendra, who was released later that same day, did not visit her partner at the Washington County Correctional Facility ahead of his extradition to Florida.
She did, however, speak to him on the phone multiple times.
During their March 20 conversation, Kendra said she’d hired lawyer Travis Story — and clarified to Joseph that the attorney was “only for” her.
Story also represented Josh Duggar in his 2021 child pornography trial, which ultimately led to the 38-year-old’s conviction.
While Joshua issued a statement defending his younger brother earlier this month, many of Joseph’s family members have denounced him.
Most recently, “heartbroken” Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar broke their silence on the “difficult time,” stressing their “focus” on “helping Kendra,” who is in hiding at a “very private location.”
