Joseph Duggar has appeared in court for the first time since his extradition to Florida.
The disgraced son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar faced his arraignment in Bay County days after he was arrested on child molestation charges.
The case marked the second time a member of the Duggar clan has been accused of molesting a minor. Joseph Duggar’s older brother, Josh Duggar, was previously accused of molesting two of his sisters.
Joseph Duggar Faces Arraignment After Release Of Bizarre Mugshot
According to new reports, the “19 Kids and Counting” alum appeared in court for the first time since he was extradited to Florida. There, Joseph’s bail was set to $600,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.
The strict conditions continued, with the court ordering Joseph to have no unsupervised contact with any minors. TMZ covered the hearing, reporting that it followed the release of Joseph’s creepy mugshot, where he appeared to be smirking at the camera.
Page Six shared more details about the arraignment hearing, revealing that Joseph had asked for unbiased treatment through his attorney. “He’s asking to be treated as fairly as anyone else, regardless of his status in the television industry,” the legal rep stated.
The Disgraced Reality TV Star Entered A Not Guilty Plea
Joseph’s lawyer further argued that he did not have a criminal history and asked for a reasonable bond. However, a prosecutor from the State Attorney’s Office refuted his statements, stressing that Joseph was facing “a serious charge against the child.”
According to records reviewed by Us Weekly, Joseph entered a not guilty plea in the child molestation case and requested a jury trial. The drama began with his March 18 arrest in Arkansas on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old.
Joseph was also charged with lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. He was accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020 during a trip to Florida, which resulted in additional charges alongside his wife, Kendra Duggar’s arrest.
A Member Of The Duggar Family Advises Kendra Duggar To Divorce Her Husband
Kendra was arrested days after her husband on four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree. Her husband also received the same charges.
The charges, per a source, stemmed from the discovery of external locks on two doors in the couple’s home. The additional charges were not related to Joseph’s molestation case, and Kendra regained her freedom after posting a $1,470 bond.
The Blast reported that Joseph’s aunt, Deanna Duggar, reflected on the situation in a recent interview. She advised Kendra to cut her losses with Joseph and divorce him instead of getting dragged into his scandal. “She needs a new life,” Deanna declared.
Jim Bob And Michelle Duggar Finally Break Their Silence
Joseph’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, finally addressed his controversial arrest in a joint statement. The Blast shared that the couple, who welcomed 19 kids, were “heartbroken over this entire situation.”
The statement noted that Jim Bob and Michelle were prioritizing Kendra and her four children during Joseph’s scandal. The duo also sent their prayers to the alleged victim before imploring the public for privacy.
Their statement followed calls for a full investigation into the Duggar clan, with The Blast reporting that several fans had pointed fingers at Jim Bob and Michelle, arguing that the apple never falls far from the tree.
Joseph Duggar’s Older Sisters Condemn His Actions
Before Jim Bob and Michelle broke their silence, their older children had spoken out about Joseph’s arrest. The Blast shared that Jill Duggar was the first member of the Duggar clan to address the situation, and she did so on her family blog.
Jill noted that she and her husband, Derick Dillard, were “shocked and heartbroken” by Joseph’s situation. She stressed that they “strongly condemn abuse” and penned her love to the alleged victim, hoping she got justice.
Jessa Duggar echoed similar sentiments in a joint statement with her husband, Ben Seewald. The since-deleted message on her Instagram Story captured the couple’s pain over Joseph’s actions, which they described as a crime “deeply grievous to God.”
Will the book be thrown at Joseph Duggar?