Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Caldwell Duggar, were arrested days apart last week in an explosive scandal.
The couple, who share four children, made headlines for the wrong reasons after “The 19 Kids and Counting” alum was accused of molesting a minor. The incident reportedly occurred in 2020.
Following Joseph Duggar’s arrest on the scathing crimes, Kendra Caldwell Duggar was booked for child endangerment and more, leaving many wondering if her arrest was connected to her husband’s accusations.
Joseph And Kendra Duggar Are Facing Separate Charges
According to new reports, Joseph has been booked for two separate crimes, with the most serious charges related to the molestation of a minor. The second set of charges came from a different case his wife, Kendra, was involved in.
A source close to the investigation told PEOPLE that Joseph and Kendra were each charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment. These charges are set in Arkansas and are unrelated to Joseph’s molestation case in Florida.
A spokesperson for the Duggar family echoed similar sentiments, stressing that Kendra was not accused or suspected in relation to Joseph’s Florida case. The representative reiterated that Kendra’s arrest was unrelated to her husband’s molestation accusations.
More About The Couple’s Child Endangerment Charges
A source close to the Duggars shed more light on Joseph and Kendra’s Arkansas case, explaining that they were both booked on child endangerment and false imprisonment charges following a shocking discovery in their home.
Investigators reportedly found locks on the exterior of doors in Joseph and Kendra’s home. These locks appeared to be tied to the Duggars’ dark past, as family members previously confessed in 2015 that their parents had installed locks on their bedroom doors.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar allegedly installed the locks as a safeguard for their other children after their oldest son, Josh Duggar, admitted to molesting his sisters. He is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence in Texas following his 2021 conviction on receiving and possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Kendra Caldwell Duggar Regained Her Freedom Shortly After Her Arrest
Days after Joseph made waves for the molestation allegations, The Blast reported that Kendra had been arrested on March 20. The Tontitown Police Department announced that arrest warrants had been issued for the Duggar couple on child endangerment and false imprisonment charges.
Kendra regained her freedom hours after she was booked into the Washington County Jail. On the other hand, Joseph remained behind bars at the Washington County Detention Center. Her arrest reignited fans’ interest in her life, and they rushed over to her Instagram page.
Although Kendra last posted in November 2021, many left fresh comments underneath the post in the wake of the molestation scandal. Fans urged the mother of four to cut her losses and distance herself from the Duggar family, particularly her husband.
Joseph Duggar Set To Be Extradited To Florida To Face Molestation Charges
The day Kendra was arrested was the same day Joseph appeared in court for the first time since his arrest on March 18. The Blast covered the story, sharing that he had waived his right to an extradition hearing. The action meant that Joseph agreed to be moved to Florida to face his crimes.
On that note, jail authorities were given 30 days to fetch Joseph from his cell in Arkansas and move him to a Florida facility. As stated, the case stemmed from accusations of molestation of a minor child. The incident reportedly occurred in 2020 when the girl was 9 years old.
The victim accused Joseph of lewd and lascivious conduct during a family vacation in Panama City Beach, with reports claiming Joseph had confessed to all allegations of wrongdoing. The accuser confirmed it wasn’t a one-off occurrence, as Joseph repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap and next to him on the couch, where he touched her inappropriately.
Jessa And Jill Duggar Condemn Their Younger Brother’s Actions
Following news of Joseph’s crimes, The Blast reported that two of the perpetrator’s older sisters had broken their silence in lengthy statements. Jill Duggar was the first from the family to address the situation, and she did so in a joint statement on her family blog.
Jill spoke on behalf of herself and her husband, Derick Dillard, stressing that they “strongly condemn abuse” and were “heartbroken” by the news. The couple noted that their hearts were with the victim and her family, praying for her to overcome the trauma.
Jessa Duggar echoed similar sentiments in a since-deleted statement on her Instagram Story. She penned a joint message with her husband, Ben Seewald, condemning Joseph’s actions and expressing their love to the victim. Additionally, both sisters echoed their support for Kendra and her four children.
What will happen next in Joseph Duggar’s case?