Joseph Duggar, a former cast member of the reality show “19 Kids and Counting” on TLC, was taken into custody in Arkansas on charges of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, authorities revealed. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement linking Duggar’s charges to an incident in Florida in 2020. In a forensic interview in March 2026, a 14-year-old girl disclosed that Duggar had reportedly molested her during a family trip to Panama City Beach when she was 9 years old.
Duggar was apprehended in Tontitown, Arkansas, where the show “19 Kids and Counting” was filmed. The statement mentioned that the victim’s father confronted Duggar about the incidents on March 17, 2026, and Duggar confessed to both the victim’s father and Tontitown Detectives.
The Tontitown Police Department released a separate statement confirming the issuance of an arrest warrant for Duggar on Wednesday. He is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County. Neither Duggar nor his family has publicly addressed the allegations.
Joseph Duggar’s arrest follows the legal troubles of his brother, Josh Duggar, who was convicted for possessing explicit images and videos of child abuse. Investigations began after authorities in Little Rock, Arkansas, discovered child sexual abuse material linked to Josh Duggar’s computer. He was sentenced to 12½ years in prison in 2022.
TLC canceled “19 Kids and Counting” in 2015 amid allegations that Josh Duggar had molested his sisters and a babysitter in the past. Despite the family friend’s tip that triggered the investigation, authorities determined that the statute of limitations on potential charges had expired.
In response to the resurfaced allegations in 2015, Duggar’s parents confirmed his confession and private apology for past misconduct. He publicly apologized for unspecified behavior, resigned from his position at the Family Research Council, and some family members, including Joseph Duggar, addressed the situation in a TLC special. Joseph Duggar expressed shock at his brother’s hidden lifestyle, stating it was heartbreaking to discover that someone he respected was living a double life.