Joseph Duggar has been hit with additional charges — and his wife, Kendra, is also facing charges — after he was arrested for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl.
“As a result of the continuing investigation, additional charges have been filed in this case against Joseph Duggar, 31, and Kendra Duggar, 27,” a release from the Tontitown, Arkansas, Police Department read on Friday.
The statement noted that arrest warrants had been issued for each of them on four second degree counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and four second degree counts of false imprisonment.
The Washington County Jail told Page Six on Friday that Kendra is currently in police custody, and has not yet been booked. Joseph is currently being held in the Washington County Detention Center for a case out of Florida, according to local news outlet KARK.
Per an Arkansas local, police have confirmed that the Duggars’ charges in Arkansas are “unrelated” to Joseph’s case in Florida.
However, TT Police Department in Arkansas said this separate investigation was launched on the heels of the alleged incident in Florida.
A rep for the Duggars — who married in 2017 and have since welcomed four children — did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment on Friday.
TLC star Joseph was arrested in Arkansas on Wednesday and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 or older, per the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim told authorities she was 9 when she was involved in multiple alleged incidents with Joseph during a Panama City Beach, Fla., family getaway back in 2020.
She claimed the reality star requested that she sit on his lap, and that he allegedly touched her genitals during the getaway.
The victim also alleged that Joseph apologized and stopped the behavior after he rubbed her thighs.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, on Tuesday, ahead of the dramatic arrest, the victim’s father confronted Joseph, who confessed to Tontitown authorities.
Joseph’s brother Josh — who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material in 2021 — labeled the allegations “false” on Thursday through a lawyer.
Back in the early 2000s, Josh was also infamously accused of sexually abusing five girls, including sisters Jessa and Jill Duggar.
Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, said they were “shocked” by Joseph’s arrest in a Thursday blog post, but emphasized they support the victim and “strongly condemn abuse.”
In a statement obtained by People on Friday, cousin and “19 Kids and Counting” alum Amy Duggar, however, said she was “sickened” and “deeply angry” about the situation.
“My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust,” she said in the statement.
“The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.”
She also noted in part that she’s “not surprised that another alleged predator has emerged from this toxic system.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source pagesix.com ’
