Joseph Duggar, a former cast member of the reality show “19 Kids and Counting” on TLC, was taken into custody in Arkansas on charges related to inappropriate and unlawful sexual behavior with a minor, as per authorities. The charges stem from an incident in Florida back in 2020, where a 14-year-old girl reported that Duggar had engaged in misconduct during a family trip to Panama City Beach when she was 9 years old.
Duggar was apprehended in Tontitown, Arkansas, the filming location of “19 Kids and Counting.” The Bay County Sheriff’s Office stated that the victim’s father confronted Duggar about the incidents in March 2026, and Duggar confessed to both the victim’s father and Tontitown Detectives.
A separate release from the Tontitown Police Department disclosed that a warrant for Duggar’s arrest was issued on the same day, and he is awaiting extradition to Bay County. No public statements have been made by Duggar or his family regarding the accusations.
This arrest follows the legal troubles of Joseph Duggar’s brother, Josh Duggar, who was convicted in 2022 for possessing child sexual abuse material. The show “19 Kids and Counting” was canceled by TLC in 2015 following allegations that Josh Duggar had committed misconduct with his sisters and a babysitter. Despite private apologies and resigning from his position at the Family Research Council, Josh Duggar faced legal consequences for his actions.
Joseph Duggar expressed shock at his brother’s behavior in a 2015 episode of “Jill & Jessa: Counting On,” stating that it was heartbreaking to discover the truth about his brother’s hidden life.