Jana Duggar is “heartbroken” at the arrest of her brother, Joseph Duggar, on child molestation charges.
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the situation involving my brother, Joseph,” the “19 Kids and Counting” personality wrote via Facebook on Thursday.
“This news came as a shock to us, as we had no prior knowledge before it became public,” Jana continued.
“Our hearts are with the child who has been harmed–this is a grievous and unacceptable wrong. She concluded, “We continued to pray for the victim and for justice to be carried out.”
A rep for the Duggars did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
The former TLC star, 36 — who shares one child with Stephen Wissmann, whom she married in 2024 — is the older sister of Joseph, 31.
Joseph was arrested in Arkansas on March 18 for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl during a 2020 family getaway to Panama City Beach, Florida.
The victim, who is now 14 years old, told police that Joseph molested her during the vacation, per an affidavit obtained by Page Six.
He was subsequently extradited to Florida, where he entered a plea of not guilty and was released on $600,000 bond. Meanwhile, he’s ordered to refrain from unsupervised contact with minors.
Along with wife Kendra, he was then charged in Arkansas with four second-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and four second-degree counts of false imprisonment on March 20.
Kendra turned herself in and was later bonded out, and the couple is set to return to court in their home state this month.
Jana is just the latest in a string of family members to weigh in on Joseph’s arrest. His aunt Deanna Duggar begged Kendra to divorce him, adding that she “needs a new life.”
Family patriarch Jim Bob and matriarch Michelle also confessed to being “heartbroken” over the arrest.
“Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time,” the statement read in part, noting that they “appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.”
Joy-Anna Duggar called the situation “deeply disturbing” in her own statement, and Jason Duggar and his wife, Maddie Grace Duggar, wrote in a statement that they are “disgusted to hear the news” while condemning the “vile” alleged behaviors.
Cousin Amy Duggar declared she was “sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry,” in a statement obtained by People, and Joseph’s sister Jinger Duggar Vuolo and her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, said it was “devastating news to hear” during an episode of their eponymous podcast.
Brother Josh Duggar — who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material in 2021 — slammed the accusations as “false” through his lawyer, from jail.
“He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction,” his attorney told the Daily Mail last week.
Jana herself faced trouble with the law back in December 2021, when she was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
“I was babysitting a few months ago when one of the children wandered outside alone. A passerby who saw the child called the police. This resulted in a written citation, as well as a follow-up with child welfare who concluded that it was an accident and the child was unharmed,” she explained via social media at the time.
“They recognized it was a case of a child slipping out of the house when you turn your back for a moment,” she continued. “It all happened so quickly and was scary. I am grateful for law enforcement and those who protect and serve our community.”
The former TLC star initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, according to documents obtained by Page Six at the time. But in January 2022 she avoided trial by pleading guilty to a lesser charge and paying an $880 fine.
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