‘19 Kids and Counting’ Star Joseph Garrett Duggar Arrested, Accused of Molesting 9-Year-Old Girl

“19 Kids and Counting” star Joseph Garrett Duggar was arrested and accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in Florida on Wednesday.

via: Us Weekly

Duggar, 31, was arrested by the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas at approximately 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, after they obtained a warrant from Bay County, where the alleged incident took place. Duggar has been charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving 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’s Office.

Per the press release, Bay County investigators were contacted by a detective from the Tontitown Police Department about a report of past sexual abuse.

The detective conducted an interview with an alleged 14-year-old victim who claimed to have had several incidents involving Duggar during a family vacation in Panama City Beach when she was 9 years old back in 2020. The girl claimed that Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. She also alleged that Duggar asked her to sit on the couch next to him and “grazed her genitals” while under a blanket.

The victim told authorities that “Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.”

Investigators stated that the alleged victim’s father confronted Duggar on Tuesday, March 17. Duggar allegedly admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown detectives, per the press release.

Duggar is awaiting extradition to Bay County.

Us Weekly has reached out to the Duggar family for comment.

This story is developing.