“19 Kids and Counting” star Joseph Garrett Duggar was arrested and accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in Florida on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old reality star was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior toward a victim aged 18 or older, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Per the sheriff’s office, they were contacted by the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas and made aware of a past sexual abuse incident involving a now 14-year-old.
In a forensic interview, the victim told officers that she was 9 years old in 2020 when she was allegedly involved in several incidents with Duggar during a family getaway in Panama City Beach, Fla.
The victim recalled how Duggar would allegedly ask her to sit on his lap.
During the same vacation, the real estate broker allegedly invited the victim to sit near him on the couch, where he then covered them up with a blanket and started touching her privates.
At the time, the victim recalled various times when Duggar would allegedly rub her thighs.
The victim recalled the businessman later stopping after he apologized.
On March 17, 2026, the victim’s father addressed the incidents with Duggar, and he confessed the crimes to the patriarch as well as Tontitown officers, according to the sheriff’s office.
Page Six confirmed that Duggar is behind bars at the Washington County jail in Arkansas and hasn’t been officially booked. Arkansas police tells us charges will be announced after booking. He will then be extradited to Bay County.
A rep for his family wasn’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
The TV personality tied the knot to Kendra Caldwell in 2017, and the couple shares three kids together: Garrett, Addison and Broolyn Praise.
Joseph rose to fame on the early 2000s show “19 Kids and Counting,” which followed the lives of his parents, Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar, and all of their children.
Additionally, the couple’s son Josh was also accused of molesting minors, including his sisters, in 2015.
He was arrestedin April 2021 and found guilty later that year. Josh was sentenced to 12 years in prison
Josh tied the knot to his wife Anna Duggar in 2008, and the duo shares a now 16-year-old daughter, Mackynzie Renée Duggar.
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.
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