Jason Duggar has broken his silence on his brother Joseph Duggar‘s arrest on child molestation charges, saying he’s “disgusted” by the act.
Other members of their family, including Jill and Amy, were appalled by Joseph’s acts when they spoke up, but their firstborn, Josh, slammed the “false accusations” against his brother and said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of it.
Joseph Duggar has since waived his rights to an extradition hearing in a virtual court appearance and would now be extradited to Florida, where the alleged incident took place.
Jason Duggar Says He’s ‘Disgusted’ By His Joseph’s Alleged Behavior
Jason Duggar has spoken up against his brother Joseph Duggar, following the latter’s arrest on charges related to child molestation earlier this month.
The disturbing reports first came to light about a week ago when law enforcement picked Joseph up for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old during a Florida vacation in 2020, and Jason did not mince words about his stance, describing the allegations as “evil” and “unthinkable.”
“We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions,” Jason and his wife, Maddie Grace Duggar, wrote in a joint statement shared via Instagram on Thursday, March 26. “We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother; however, this isn’t about how it’s impacted our lives.”
Jason and his wife then suggested that the case be focused on the alleged victim and her recovery.
“Our hearts are burdened because a child’s life has been turned upside down due to the evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable. This is something unthinkable,” Jason and Maddie added.
Jason Duggar And His Wife Described The Alleged Abuse As ‘Vile’
Elsewhere in their statement, the couple expressed their disgust at Joseph’s behavior while also offering prayers for the alleged victim.
They noted that they’re “angered by what has happened, and we pray [that] God’s righteous hand and the court system will serve justice in the situation as deserved.”
The 25-year-old “19 And Counting” star said he and Maddie “have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so. To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile.”
“We ask that you pray for the victim who has been brave enough to share what has happened,” they shared.
“We also ask that you pray for his family at this time, as his children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives,” they continued, referring to Joseph’s four children, whom he shares with wife Kendra Duggar. “We stand with innocent children. Always.”
Joseph Duggar Could Face Life Imprisonment
Joseph’s wife, Kendra Duggar, was also arrested on Friday, March 20, but was released that same day after posting a bond of $1,470.
They’re now both facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and 4 counts of second-degree false imprisonment.
Family law specialist and senior attorney, Rachael Bennett, weighed in on the couple’s legal battle and said if Joseph is convicted in Florida, he could face life imprisonment.
“He’s currently waiting to be transferred from Arkansas to Florida, and he’ll be facing trial on child molestation charges in Florida,” Bennett told Us Weekly. “He’s also been charged with the same child endangerment crimes as Kendra [Duggar] related to the home inspection, but those are, I would say, considered secondary.”
The expert added, “If he’s convicted in Florida, these specific charges could result in a life in prison sentence, and if a life sentence isn’t given, Florida law requires what’s called a ‘split sentence,’ which requires a minimum of 25 years in prison followed by lifetime probation.”
Joseph appeared in a court session via Zoom and waived his rights to an extradition hearing, meaning he has agreed to be transferred to Bay County, Florida, to face charges for the allegations.
Joseph Duggar’s Other Relatives Called Him Out
Some of Joseph’s other siblings have spoken up in condemnation of his alleged action.
His sister Jill Duggar said she and her husband Derick Dillard were “shocked and heartbroken” when she first learned of the allegations via a text from a friend.
They stated that they “strongly condemn abuse,” while also sharing their hopes “that justice will be achieved.”
Joseph’s cousin Amy also said that she was “sickened” by it, but was “not surprised” that the allegation had surfaced.
Josh Duggar Slams ‘False Accusations’ Against His Younger Brother
While most of the Duggar family has condemned Joseph’s alleged actions, his elder brother, Josh Duggar, slammed it all as “false accusations” and said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of his brother’s legal battle, claiming that he was probably “targeted.”
“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’s lawyer told the Daily Mail.
Josh was arrested in 2021 after he was found guilty of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. He was sentenced to twelve and a half years behind bars and is expected to be released in 2032.