{"id":2339329,"date":"2026-03-20T23:05:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T23:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2339329"},"modified":"2026-03-20T23:05:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T23:05:46","slug":"jessa-duggar-breaks-silence-after-brother-josephs-arrest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/jessa-duggar-breaks-silence-after-brother-josephs-arrest\/","title":{"rendered":"Jessa Duggar Breaks Silence After Brother Joseph&#8217;s Arrest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/jessa-duggar\/\"><strong>Jessa Duggar<\/strong><\/a> has broken her silence about <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/joseph-duggar-arrested-for-unlawful-sexual-activity-with-a-minor\/\">the arrest<\/a> of her younger brother <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/who-is-joseph-duggar-what-to-know-after-molestation-arrest\/\"><strong>Joseph Duggar<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe learned of this saddening news along with the rest of the world on Wednesday, and we are in complete shock,\u201d Jessa, 33, wrote in a now-deleted statement on behalf of herself and husband <strong>Ben Seewald<\/strong> via Instagram Stories on Friday, March 20.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur hearts are grieving for this innocent young girl, and we know this is deeply grievous to God, who cares tenderly for children and the vulnerable. We are keeping her in our prayers,\u201d Jessa wrote in the post, which was viewed by <em>Us Weekly<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Joseph, 31, was arrested on Wednesday, March 18, amid accusations that he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl six years ago during a family vacation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/duggar-family-members-react-to-joseph-duggars-arrest\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/duggar-family-members-react-to-joseph-duggars-arrest\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">Jill, Josh and More Duggar Family Members React to Joseph Duggar\u2019s Arrest<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tMultiple members of the Duggar family have reacted to Joseph Duggar\u2019s arrest on child molestation charges. Joseph, who rose to fame alongside his family on the reality series 19 Kids and Counting, was taken into custody after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl while on a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, in [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>He was charged with molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, according to a press release from the Bay County Sheriff\u2019s Office in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>Joseph, who is the seventh child of <strong>Jim Bob<\/strong> and <strong>Michelle Duggar<\/strong>, has since <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/joseph-duggar-not-suicidal-in-jail-amid-molestation-arrest\/\">waived his right to an extradition hearing<\/a> in Arkansas and will soon be transferred to Florida to face charges.<\/p>\n<p>The girl, now 14, alleged that Joseph \u201casked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket,\u201d according to the BCSO press release, and \u201cmanipulated the victim\u2019s underwear and grazed her genitals.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4286489\" style=\"width: 900px;\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<div class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom:72.142857142857%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4286489\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=1000&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"Jessa Duggar Breaks Silence After Brother Joseph Duggar Arrest\" width=\"1000\" height=\"722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=100&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 100w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=200&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=300&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=400&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 400w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=500&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 500w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=600&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=700&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 700w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=800&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 800w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=900&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 900w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=1000&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1000w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=1200&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=1400&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1400w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1600w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=1800&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1800w, https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Joseph-Duggar-Arrest.jpg?w=1920&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) calc(100vw - 6em), (max-width: 1000px) 80vw, 1000px\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption\"><br \/>\n Joseph Duggar<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Tontitown Police Department<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to the girl, Joseph \u201ceventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Investigators found out the girl\u2019s father confronted Joseph about the incidents on Tuesday, March 17, at which point Joseph admitted his actions to the victim\u2019s father and to Tontitown detectives.<\/p>\n<p>Joseph is a father of four and currently married to wife <strong>Kendra Caldwell<\/strong>. The couple tied the knot in 2017 and share sons Garrett and Justus as well as daughters Addison and Brooklyn.<\/p>\n<div id=\"news-block\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form  \">\n<div class=\"newsletter-signup__success\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<h3>Thank You!<\/h3>\n<p>You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/joseph-duggar-was-last-seen-in-jessa-duggars-holiday-video\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joseph-Duggar-Was-Last-Seen-in-Jessa-Duggars-Holiday-Video-kendra-e1773894534869.png?crop=381px%2C59px%2C1297px%2C734px&amp;resize=400%2C225&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 770px) calc(100vw - 6em), 200px\" alt=\"Joseph Duggar Was Last Seen in Jessa Duggars Holiday Video kendra\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" data-fallback-img=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Joseph-Duggar-Was-Last-Seen-in-Jessa-Duggars-Holiday-Video-kendra-e1773894534869.png?quality=86&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/joseph-duggar-was-last-seen-in-jessa-duggars-holiday-video\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">Joseph Duggar Was Last Seen in Jessa&#8217;s Holiday Video Before His Arrest<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tJoseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Duggar, were seemingly last seen in a family holiday video released mere weeks before his arrest on child molestation allegations. Footage from the Duggar family\u2019s annual Christmas costume party was included in Joseph\u2019s sister Jessa Duggar\u2019s \u201cHoliday Festivities\u201d vlog, which was published on February 9. In the video, Joseph, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Jessa concluded her now-deleted post, \u201cAs a family, we are pulling together to support Kendra and her kids during this difficult time.\u201d (Kendra, 27, did not appear during Joseph\u2019s court hearing on Friday.)<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/jill-duggar\/\"><strong>Jill Duggar<\/strong><\/a> was <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/jill-is-the-1st-duggar-to-address-brother-joshuas-arrest\/\">the first<\/a> of the Duggar kids to speak out, revealing that she and her family were \u201cshocked and heartbroken\u201d to learn about the accusations through media reports.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved,\u201d the statement on her family blog read. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usmagazine.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jessa Duggar has broken her silence about the arrest of her younger brother Joseph Duggar. \u201cWe learned of this saddening news along with the rest of the world on Wednesday, and we are in complete shock,\u201d Jessa, 33, wrote in a now-deleted statement on behalf of herself and husband Ben Seewald via Instagram Stories on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2339330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[24003,311360],"class_list":["post-2339329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-celebrity-news","tag-true-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jessa-Duggar-Breaks-Silence-After-Brother-Josephs-Arrest.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2339329"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2339331,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339329\/revisions\/2339331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2339330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2339329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2339329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2339329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}