Joseph Duggar, a former reality TV star, has been charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12 years old after confessing to molesting a 9-year-old. The 31-year-old made the incriminating statements during a recorded phone call on March 17, 2026, arranged at the request of a detective.
According to an affidavit filed by the Bay County Sheriff's Office, Duggar admitted to touching the victim over her clothing and said his 'intentions were not pure.' The victim, now 14, described multiple incidents at a vacation home where Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap and touched her thighs.
Duggar's wife, Kendra, was also taken into custody and is facing identical charges. The couple has four children and was featured on the Duggar family's TLC reality shows.
This is not the first time a Duggar family member has faced child sex abuse charges. Joseph's older brother, Josh, was convicted federally of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material and is serving a 12-year sentence.
