Imprisoned former 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar is calling the claims that led to his younger brother Joseph’s arrest this week for child molestation “sensationalized fiction,” despite police claiming that 31-year-old Joseph admitted to them (and to the victim’s father) his past unlawful conduct.
According to the Daily Mail, 38-year-old Josh, who is currently serving a more than 12-year prison sentence for receiving Child Sex Abuse Materials (CSAM), spoke out about Joe’s arrest on Friday, with his lawyer reportedly telling the outlet that Josh “understands the stigma of being accused.”
“He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life,” the attorney continued. “He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction.”
(Despite his conviction, Josh still maintains that he is innocent of the crimes he was convicted of and has been doing everything he can to get himself out of prison.)
While Josh’s attorney noted that Josh and Joe are not in “frequent communication” with each other, he said Josh “hopes and prays for his brother’s well-being in this difficult time.”
As The Ashley reported earlier this week, Joe– the seventh of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children– was apprehended Wednesday by Tontitown Police in Arkansas after authorities were informed by a 14-year-old girl that Joe had allegedly sexually molested her in 2020 while vacationing in Panama City, Florida. The victim was only 9 years old at the time.
According to authorities, Joe eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents reportedly stopped; however, investigators learned that the victim’s father confronted Joe about the incidents earlier this week, at which point Joe reportedly admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown detectives.
Joe was booked into the Washington County Jail in Arkansas on charges of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior– Molestation of a Victim Less Than 12 Years Old, as well as Lewd and Lascivious Behavior Conducted By a Person 18 Years or Older. He remains there as of press time, but will soon be extradited to Bay County, Florida, where the alleged molestation took place.
Joseph made his first court appearance (via Zoom) on Friday, during which the father of four waived his right to an extradition hearing. According to People, the hearing lasted approximately one minute and was not attended by anyone in the Duggar family.
On Friday, TMZ reported that Joe is being held in protective custody while in the Arkansas jail.
As The Ashley reported on Thursday, Joe’s older sister Jill Duggar was the first member of the Duggar Family to comment on her brother’s arrest. She and husband Derick Dillard released a statement on their website condemning Joe for his alleged actions and expressing sympathy and prayers for the alleged victim, as well as Joe’s wife Kendra and their four children.
The couple also claimed to have had no prior knowledge of Joe’s alleged actions, insisting they were “shocked” to learn about his arrest.
RELATED STORY: Jill Duggar & Husband Derick Dillard Release Statement Regarding Joseph Duggar’s Arrest for Child Molestation: “We Were Shocked”
(Photos: Instagram; TLC; Washington County Sheriff’s Department)
10 Responses
Every time Josh opens his mouth there should be a designated person nearby to shut it for him by whatever means necessary. Eventually he will learn no one gaf what his disgusting a$$ has to say. Joe admitting to it you nitwit. Meanwhile you and your trashy wife are still trying to deny everything and she’s willing to subject her kids to it by allowing him a relationship. It’s foul. That said, at this point it is time they look into Jimbob or whatever his dumba$$ name is. The only time I have seen something like this before is when there was a history of the grandfather abusing the father, the father the son, and the son his siblings. The fact that two sons have shown this abhorrent behavior makes me suspicious of jimbob.
Stfu you disgusting pervert
And here I thought I josh had already reached peak nasty. I won’t make that mistake again .
These people are vile. All I can think about is Michelle’s robo call she did last election cycle condemning the trans community and warning people to keep children away from them, all while preaching her “family values”.
Well, here we are Michelle, I’ll be waiting on that public statement, you weirdo dirt bag!
It’s scary how this family really believes that this behavior is no big deal. They were brought up where this is normal, and it’s like the public are the bad guys for not understanding.
Damn, dude. At least Joe admitted to his disgusting/despicable actions to the victims’ father and police when confronted. Josh has way more hard evidence against him and is STILL denying it and now denying what his brother ADMITTED TO. Just shut the hell up already, Josh. I’m hoping Joe will just plead guilty and save the poor victim the extra trauma of having to go through a court case.
To clarify, my comment isn’t defending Joe at all. He’s still a monster for what he did and I hope the judge makes an example of him. Just pointing out that Josh is extra ridiculous.
I thought the same. What Joe did was awful but thankfully it seems like he seems ready to face punishment and own up to his horrible actions. Josh will always be the, “Not me”, boy.
Yeaahhhh Josh needs to stay quiet🙄😑
Dude is disgusting and so is his brother why is anyone even letting him talk?He shouldn’t get to comment on anything he’s also sitting in prison, saying he he didn’t get a fair trial guess what?He’s right A fair trial would have been removing his eyeballs and his genitals.Same should go for his brother stop.Letting these idiots speak out