Joseph Duggar has entered a plea in his child endangerment case with wife Kendra Duggar one month after his arrest on child sex abuse charges.
Joseph, 31, pleaded not guilty to endangering the welfare of a minor on Monday, April 27, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly.
The plea comes one month after the 19 Kids and Counting alum was arrested on suspicion 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. A 14-year-old girl alleged that he molested her during a 2020 vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, when she was 9 years old.
According to an affidavit obtained by Us following Joseph’s March 17 arrest, his accuser claimed that the former reality TV personality touched her inappropriately on her thigh and over her underwear multiple times during the vacation. In an interview with a detective, the minor recalled feeling “confused” and “uncomfortable” during the alleged incidents. She further claimed that Joseph “apologized for his actions,” at which point the alleged abuse stopped.
Joseph Duggar Enters Not Guilty Plea After Arrest, New Mugshot Released
Two days after Joseph’s arrest, he was hit with additional charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. Kendra, 27, was also arrested on the same charges. (Joseph and Kendra share four children.)
A source exclusively told Us at the time that the additional charges and Kendra’s arrest had “nothing to do” with Joseph’s child sex abuse case in Florida.
“After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there. They came to [Kendra’s] house,” the source said. “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.”
Kendra pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $1,470 bond shortly after she was booked. She was initially ordered to have no contact with her alleged victims, but on April 17, a judge signed off on her lawyer’s request to have the order lifted.
Meanwhile, Joseph pleaded not guilty to child molestation and requested a trial by jury. He was subsequently released on a $600,000 bond on March 31 and reunited with Kendra, whom he married in 2017.
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Neither Joseph nor Kendra have publicly commented on their legal battles. However, both of their families have spoken out.
A spokesperson for Joseph’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, told Us last month that they are “heartbroken” over their son’s arrest.
“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,” the March 30 statement read.
Kendra’s family shared a similar sentiment in a statement shared via Instagram on April 15.
“Our family is both troubled and heartbroken over the alleged actions committed by our son-in-law,” the post read. “We are devastated for the young girl, a child who was courageous in every way to share her truth. We stand by her, both in support and prayer, and forever will.”
