Kendra and Joe Duggar could get off the hook for their pending child endangerment/false imprisonment charges— if they behave until next year!
According to court documents obtained by The Ashley, a judge signed a Diversion Order in both of the former ‘Counting On’ stars’ criminal court cases, pushing the case for one year. During that one year, Kendra and Joe’s cases will be under an Advisement Period. If the Duggars comply with all the terms of the court order during the Advisement Period, the judge has agreed to drop the charges against them.
This news comes just one day after Joe and Kendra— who share four children— filed to change the “not guilty” pleas they entered in August.
As The Ashley previously told you, Joe and Kendra were arrested in March and are each facing four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, as well as four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. (It was later revealed that the couple’s alleged victims were their four young children.)
The terms that Joe and Kendra must adhere to are relatively basic. Each must shell out $1850 in fees before the end of the Advisement Period. The judge also orders them to stay out of trouble.
“Defendant must not commit any new criminal offenses and must maintain good behavior during the Advisement Period,” the order from Washington County District Court reads.
Following the arrests, Joe and Kendra’s kids were removed from their custody. Now, they are allowed to have supervised contact with the children (although Joe’s request in June to have that changed to unsupervised contact was denied.) It is unknown if this order will change anything pertaining to how much (or little) contact Joe and Kendra will be allowed to have with their kids.
However, the legally-challenged Duggars have been ordered to follow all court orders, and any directions given by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS) for the one-year Advisement Period.
If Kendra and Joe do all that’s been requested— pay the fees, follow the law and listen to ADHS for the one year— then their charges will be dropped.
“If the Defendant completes the terms of this Order, during the Advisement Period, the State agrees to dismiss all charges in this case,” the judge’s order reads.
Kendra and Joe are due back in court on August 4, 2027 for a review hearing before the charges are officially dropped.
This is a good deal for the Duggars, as their second-degree false imprisonment charge could have carried a penalty of up to a year in jail and $2500 in fines on its own. (It’s significant that Kendra and Joe were not charged with first-degree false imprisonment— which means that their alleged actions did not “expose the victim to a risk of serious injury.” That is the difference between someone being charged with first-degree and second-degree false imprisonment.)
Because Kendra and Joe received a second-degree charge, it means that they allegedly “knowingly restrained another” person, but doing so did not expose the alleged victims to a risk of serious injury.
As for the second-degree “endangering the welfare of a minor” charges, Arkansas law states that “a person commits the offense of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree if he or she knowingly engages in conduct creating a substantial risk of serious harm to the physical or mental welfare of another person known by the person to be a minor.”
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It’s been reported that Kendra and Joe’s charges stem from authorities finding evidence that the couple locked their kids in their rooms. However, that has not been confirmed by the Duggars or authorities. Kendra and Joe’s alleged actions were serious enough for authorities to take their kids from them, though.
Although Joe is likely relieved to know that his Arkansas charges can be dropped, he is still facing a cornucopia of legal issues in Florida. As The Ashley previously reported, Joe was already in jail when Kendra was arrested in March. Days earlier, Joe had been thrown in the clink and charged with sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl on a 2020 family vacation with his in-laws in Florida.
Joe returns to court in September for his Florida charges.
RELATED STORY: Update on Joe & Kendra Duggar’s Child Endangerment Court Case: Couple Withdraws Not Guilty Pleas
(Photos: TLC; Instagram; Washington County Sherriff’s Department)
Ofc these fucking predators are getting off scot free. Just dont rape any kids for a year Joe! The justice system is a joke.
You do know those are two different cases, right..?
Yet Kate Gosselin tied Colin up in the basement with cable ties and nothing else and she doesn’t even get investigated. Typical.
I find it also interesting of I look at Je elke, they looked the kids out of the house in the woods and strangely thats not the only thing they did….and she gets away with everything
Jenelle* stupid auto correct.
And locked*
Let’s not forget the other offenses this man has against him, he should never have custody or be around any children
They were locked in their rooms growing up. I don’t know how TLC can sleep at night.
As long as she stops locking them in their rooms it’s fine. They are under supervision and hopefully he will be locked up a long time. Child protection is keeping an eye on them. His other matter may cause another reason to order him kept from the children.
Perhaps there parent also did the same thing and to them it is normal. They are young and will now learn from the person watching them.
Then you break the fucking cycle!
They haven’t been able to “be good” over the last 8 years, what will make next year any different?!