Joseph Duggar entered a plea in his child molestation case as he was extradited to Florida.
According to records viewed by Us Weekly, Duggar, 31, entered a written plea of not guilty and requested a jury trial on Sunday, March 29.
Us also confirmed via the Bay County Jail on Tuesday, March 31, that Duggar was in custody in Florida. He was previously arrested in Arkansas on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.
Following his arrest on March 18, Duggar was charged with an additional four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree. His wife, Kendra Duggar, was arrested on the same charges earlier and subsequently released on a $1,470 bond. (Joseph and Kendra, 27, share four children.)
A Comprehensive Guide to the Duggar Family: Kids, Grandkids and More
A source exclusively told Us Weekly that Kendra’s arrest had “nothing to do” with her husband’s case in Florida.
“After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there,” the source shared. “Apparently, they had two rooms where the lock of the doorknob was on the outside instead of inside. They arrested her and took her kids for that, saying it’s evidence that she wrongly detains her kids.”
Joseph was accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020 during a trip to Florida. While Joseph has not formally broken his silence outside of his plea, several of his family members have spoken out.
“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,” Jill Duggar wrote in a blog post earlier this month. “We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020.”
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Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, said they were “shocked and heartbroken” by the allegations.
“We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved,” the message continued. “Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, meanwhile, broke their silence on Monday, March 30, telling Us in a statement: “Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation. Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time. They are praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
