Jana Duggar Speaks Out About Why She Was Charged with Child Endangerment: Her Siblings Rally Around Her

“I can explain!” 

Last week, Counting On fans were left shocked– and confused— after news broke that eldest Duggar Family daughter, Jana, was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the third degree. As The Ashley previously reported, Jana pleaded “not guilty” to the charge– which she got in September— and she is scheduled to appear in court for a bench trial in January.

However, on Tuesday, Jana decided to speak out about her charge and revealed her side of what went down on the day in question. (Jana’s statement comes just days after her sister Jessa Seewald and her cousin Amy Duggar posted some details about what happened to Instagram.)

Jana made it clear that, although she was charged, she was never arrested and hauled off to jail…unlike her older brother, Josh, who is currently sitting behind bars after being convicted of receiving and possessing child sex abuse materials last week.

“I’m only sharing this because the media has been having a field day with it all,” Jana’s Instagram statement began. “I prefer a more private life, but I know my last name means that everything we do is open to public criticism and interest, especially during this time.”

“You have us to thank for that, Jana! You’re welcome!”

Jana went on to deliver what she calls “the raw facts” of what happened on the day in question.

“I was babysitting a few months ago and one of the children wandered outside alone,” she wrote. “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.

“They recognized it was a case of a child slipping out of the house when you turn your back for a moment. It all happened so quickly and was scary.”

Jana went on to clarify that she was “certainly never arrested like some may have implied.”

Jana— who has always been considered by her parents and siblings to be extremely responsible and strict in regard to her child-raising skills, says she is mad that she allowed this to happen.

“In the end I was just upset at myself that it had happened at all, but thankful it all ended safely and that’s truly what mattered the most to me,” Jana wrote. 

Online rumors have stated that the runaway child was one of Josh and his wife Anna‘s younger kids, but that has not been confirmed. As The Ashley previously reported, the citation Jana received stated that the child was found on Dowell Road (which is over half a mile away from the Duggar home!) 

“That kid was really moving! The only other thing around here that gets that much exercise is my uterus!”

One day before, Jana’s sister Jessa took to Instagram Stories to post a message of support to Jana, revealing a few of the details of what went down. She also made it clear that she will still use Jana’s free babysitting whenever she needs it.

“Getting messages about headlines about Jana,” Jessa began. “Bottom line– it was an innocent mistake. She was babysitting and one of the kids slipped out the door unnoticed, but it ended safely. Could’ve happened to anyone. The media is sensationalizing this because of other current family circumstances and it makes me so mad.”

“Other family circumstances” exhibit A…

Jessa continued to voice her support for Jana, who is the only Duggar daughter over the age of 18 who is unmarried and has no children of her own.

“She’s without question one of the most amazing women I know and I’d trust her with my kids any day of the week,” Jessa wrote, before slamming those who slammed Jana. “Do me a favor– give the girl a break, and all you perfect humans go back to living your lives.”

A few days earlier, Jana’s cousin Amy told a similar story, mentioning that Jana was probably “emotionally worn out” from being tasked with babysitting so many kids. 

“This couldn’t have been intentional,” she wrote. “Thank God the child was OK and found! I bet you were exhausted, stressed and just emotionally worn out. Watching multiple kids is hard! Bc there’s so many of them and you only have two eyes! It’s a very sad situation going on and my heart goes out to @janamduggar. Love you.” 

Jana’s younger brothers, Jason and James (both of whom Jana helped raise), also showed rallied around Jana on Instagram over the weekend. James posted “I support Jana Duggar” on Instagram Stories, with Jason reposting James’ post right after and writing, “Bro, same!” 

The Elms Springs, Arkansas, District court clerk confirmed the charge to The Ashley on Friday. Jana was charged with a Class A misdemeanor on September 10, one day after the alleged crime took place.

Her bail was set at $430, and she has a hearing set for January 10, 2022. She has hired the law firm that helped to defend Josh.

RELATED STORY: Duggar Siblings & Spouses Continue to Release Statements Following Josh Duggar’s Conviction: “For Josh, We Fear For His Soul”

(Photos: TLC: Instagram; YouTube)

13 Comments

  1. Jana did nothing wrong and no one said it was one of Anna’s kids so don’t assume that it was that’s pathetic! Is Josh a creep you bet! Are Jim Bob and Michelle stressed out and exhausted probably! But one thing you should NEVER DO is blame the child for the parents actions the only one guilty of ANYTHING CRIMINAL here is Josh himself and I honestly believe that when he did what he did to his sisters he was acting like a stupid teenage hormonal boy is it okay that he hurt them ABSOLUTELY NOT but you can’t charge him for that when he was a minor himself and cheating while being a sin isn’t against the law either! So the only thing he truly is guilty of is having those images in his possession and he is paying for that! The ONLY thing Jana is guilty of is making a mistake while babysitting and I’m positive no ill intentions whatsoever occurred there! FYI PARENTS NEED BREAKS TOO Jim Bob and Michelle for the most part are decent parents and they DO take care of their own children if they didn’t CPS would have stepped in YEARS ago and when you have that many kids at least one of them is bound to turn out messed up doesn’t make them horrible irresponsible parents and at least they aren’t all different baby daddies either it could always ALWAYS be worse!


  2. Aint it funny that this story leaked by “someone”. Jimboob selling out his own kid again to deflect from PedoDuggars verdict. Nice.


  3. This woman is thirty years old, and never held a job? Did she finish school, or any college? What in the wide world of sports is she going to do when mom & dad are gone?
    Or is jim-boob looking for a male to court her ?


    1. That’s how fundies roll. The women are raised to be subservient to the “man” and a breeder. This “free labor” childcare situation has probably been sold to Jana over her life as, “get as much experience with kids as you can bc that’s what your future husband wants, tons of babies”.

      And with all of them continuing to produce plenty of babies, Jana probably hasn’t had anytime to consider another job or education. Fundies also don’t like their women folk educated, unless it’s about birthing babies


  4. The Ashley, those photo captions are everything! I desperately need those giggles (and gaffaws) when reading anything about the Duggars.


  5. This would not be an issue if it was a normal babysitting situation. BUT she was watching Anna’s small children while Anna was over kissing her master Josh’s ass. I am sure she was doing that every day. Jana is a woman in her 30s. She can say “no” to exhausting herself over watching her child molester brother’s kids. Another case of the cult beliefs endangering kids. Jana, and Anna are FULLY responsible for what happened.


  6. I support Jana. The parents are more to blame in my opinion. Daycare workers have a limit on how many children they can have per adult but Kana can take care of how many at once?? I believe Michelle and JB and Josh and Anna dump their kids off on her


  7. First of all, maybe get a different lawyer? They’re not exactly known for their solid defense skills lol secondly, can someone explain how bail is set when the accused isn’t arrested? I’m not familiar with how that works.


  8. Jana doesn’t have kids of her own yet she constantly babysits several children at once between siblings and nephews. How about their actual parents taking care of them for a change? If they can’t take care of so many kids STOP REPRODUCING. It’s not fair to expect your eldest daughter or sibling to raise your kids, it’s not her job.

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