Joseph Duggar is in safe hands while he remains in custody awaiting extradition.
The reality TV star was recently taken into custody after claims of his sexual misconduct with a minor came to the attention of the authorities. Reportedly, he owned up to the accusations before the victim’s father and local authorities.
Joseph Duggar’s arrest comes over a decade after his brother, Josh Duggar, who is currently serving time in federal prison, made headlines for a similar case. At the time, Josh was accused of acting inappropriately with five girls, including his sisters.
Where Is Joseph Duggar Being Held Currently?
While Joseph awaits trial and extradition, he remains behind bars in Arkansas. The TV star has reportedly been placed in a “secure” area of the Washington County Jail while he remains patient until his extradition to Bay County, Florida, where he will face the charges raised against him.
According to a supervising corporal at the detention facility, safety for the father of three is a high priority, as jail can be a very dangerous place for the inmates. To this effect, Joseph is completely secluded from other inmates to ensure adequate safety due to his high-profile case. The jail staff are also doing their part as they are aware of his notoriety, hence they have the former TV star under “constant watch”, performing hourly checks.
The cop also told TMZ that no cameras are looking directly into the cells because of privacy laws in Arkansas. Still, there are officers stationed close to Joseph’s cell watching him. The officers on watch duty are reportedly wearing body cams, and their close watch is to ensure he does not hurt himself while he remains behind bars.
The ’19 Kids And Counting’ Star Has His Name Tied To Sexual Allegations
Joseph was arrested and booked on Wednesday for molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. The arrest came after reports that the 31-year-old sexually abused a minor in Florida. The alleged victim was reportedly 9 years old at the time and was on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach in 2020, where the incidents took place.
The now 14-year-old girl told the police that Joseph had asked her to sit with him on a couch underneath a blanket, where he then “manipulated” her underwear and touched her private part while rubbing his hands on her thighs. According to investigations, the incident was not a one-time occurrence but occurred over time, stating that he “repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap.”
The claims were brought to the authorities’ attention through the Tontitown Police Department on March 16. Following confrontation from the girl’s father, Joseph “allegedly admitted his actions to the father and Tontitown detectives,” and on that note, he was taken into custody and charged.
Joseph Duggar’s Brother Was Also Involved In A Sexual Abuse Scandal
Back in 2015, TLC had to cancel the “19 Kids and Counting” show after Josh’s issues with alleged sexual misconduct came to light. The TV star was accused of touching five girls inappropriately, including four of his sisters. Due to the statute of limitations, he was not prosecuted for the crimes.
He, however, admitted to the misconduct, saying that he acted inexcusably and was fully aware that his actions had cut deep in the hearts of his friends and family members. Following his confession, his family arranged for him and those affected to undergo counselling.
In December, 2021, Josh was convicted and sentenced to over 12 years in prison for knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography. The Blast shares that He is currently serving time at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Seagoville in Texas.
At the time, Joseph called his brother out, saying that he was heartbroken to hear of such behavior and had never expected that Josh was “living such a secret life.”
Josh Duggar Does Not Believe His Brother Is Guilty
As the news of the recent charges against Joseph makes headlines, different narratives and speculations follow suit. One that has caught the eye of the media comes from the convicted Duggar brother as he speaks in his brother’s defense.
Now that the tables have turned, Josh vehemently insists that Joseph is being falsely accused. He says he does not believe the claims, tagging them as “sensationalized fiction.” The Blast shares that Josh’s legal counsel shared a piece of his mind with news outlets.
The lawyer said, “Josh understands the stigma of being accused. He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction.” Josh hopes and prays that his younger brother is thriving through this difficult time, despite them not being in regular contact.
Joseph Duggar’s Wife Is Advised To Leave In Light Of The Situation
Many fans have denounced Joseph for the alleged crimes after the recent charges made headlines. While some are cutting their ties and fandom with the reality TV star, others are advising his wife, Kendra Duggar, to do the same.
“Praying for you and your children! Please take them and run! It won’t change! My heart is broken for you!” one fan wrote. “Get out of that family as fast as you can. Duggar men can’t be trusted. You have a great family, you will be fine,” another added.
The Blast shares that some members of the online community are also suggesting that there may be more to the family than meets the eye. As details of this second scandal unfold, many point fingers at the whole family tree, calling for thorough investigations of all members of the Duggar clan to be carried out.
Where will the hammer of justice land for Joseph Duggar?