In the swirling wake of a controversy, Alex Dougherty of the social media sensation, the Dougherty Dozen, has broken his silence following the arrest of his brother, James Dougherty, on charges of public lewdness.
According to recent coverage by TMZ, Alex took to various social media platforms to express his unwavering support for James. Amidst the tidal wave of attention, he reassured followers of the TikTok-famous family that his brother was coping well with the situation at hand.
However, Alex made it clear that this would be his only statement on the matter, choosing not to delve further into the details.
James Dougherty Arrested for Public Lewdness at New York Mall
The incident in question occurred on July 29, around 3:32 p.m., at Eastview Mall in Victor, New York. A press release from the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department, shared with People, confirmed James’s arrest at that location.
The authorities’ report stated, “Through investigation, it was determined that Mr. Dougherty was found masturbating in his vehicle in the parking lot at the Eastview, in view of the public.”
James—who listed his address as homeless—was taken into custody, issued an appearance ticket and released. He is expected to return to Victor Town Court to face the charge against him at a later date.
Oxygen reached out to the sheriff’s office and the Dougherty family, but did not receive an immediate reply.
Dougherty Dozen YouTube Channel Shares Family Life
The family, led by parents Alicia Dougherty and Josh Dougherty, has amassed 1.64 million subscribers on their YouTube channel Dougherty Dozen as well as 7.8 million on TikTok. Through videos—which shows their ever-changing family of 13—they bring fans along for large grocery hauls and provide a glimpse into their daily life.
Alicia and Josh—who met in college—struggled with fertility and decided to turn to foster care and adoption, before ultimately welcoming biological children of their own.
“It’s not always easy,” the family wrote in a 2025 Facebook post, “but it’s always worth it.”
Today, their large family is a blend of four biological children and seven adopted children.
James was adopted into the family when he was 6 years old.
In 2025, People reported that James—the second oldest sibling—had completed a two-year program in the culinary arts.
“That was his dream,” Alicia said at the time. “And he’s doing it.”