Former 19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar has been arrested on suspicion of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida announced his arrest on Wednesday, March 18. In a press release, the department said it was contacted by Tontitown police in Arkansas, regarding a report that a 9-year-old girl was sexually abused years earlier.
The victim’s father confronted 31-year-old Duggar about the alleged abuse on March 17, 2026. According to the sheriff’s office, Duggar “admitted his actions” to the girl’s father and to police officers in Tontitown.
Duggar was taken into custody and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior; molestation of a victim less than 12-years-old; and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.
The girl participated in a forensic interview and told investigators about several incidents involving the reality star.
The alleged abuse took place in 2020, while Duggar was vacationing with the girl’s family in Panama City Beach, Florida, the sheriff’s office said. The victim said she was abused after Duggar asked her to sit on his lap multiple times.
“As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs,” the sheriff’s office said.
“The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology,” the press release said.
Duggar is currently awaiting extradition from Arkansas to Bay County, Florida.
Duggar rose to fame with his large family when they starred on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting about an Arkansas couple raising their 19 children.
His older brother Josh Duggar, 38, is currently serving time in federal prison for receiving child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Josh was convicted in December 2021, and a federal judge sentenced him to 12.5 years in prison in May 2022.
Allegations against the older Josh surfaced in 2015, when tabloid reports said he had abused five underage girls.
He acknowledged abusing four of his sisters and a babysitter when he was a teenager. In response, TLC canceled 19 Kids and Counting.
The show focused on devout Christians Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, and their children. It ran from 2008 to 2015, with the name changing as the family expanded.
After Josh’s arrest, TLC canceled spinoff series, Counting On, which centered on his sisters, their husbands and children.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
