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Reality TV personality Joseph Duggar, known for his role in “Counting On,” appeared with a smirk in a recently released mugshot after pleading not guilty to grave accusations made by an underage accuser.
The 31-year-old, who is a father of four, was taken into custody on March 25 in Tontitown, Arkansas. The arrest followed allegations that he inappropriately touched a nine-year-old girl in Florida. Duggar formally entered a not guilty plea and has requested a jury trial, which was submitted in writing on March 29.
Following his arrest, Duggar was extradited to Florida and arrived in Bay County on Tuesday morning, shortly after 7:30 a.m., according to records from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. His new mugshot was taken upon his arrival.
In a related development, Duggar’s wife, Kendra, 27, was arrested in Tontitown on Friday. She faces four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. Joseph Duggar now also faces these same charges.
Meanwhile, his wife Kendra, 27, was taken into custody Friday in Tontitown and charged with four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, as well as four charges of second-degree false imprisonment. Joseph is now also facing the same charges.
Kendra was released on bond about an hour and a half after her booking, while Joseph had signed an extradition waiver to face charges in Florida, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Counting On star Joseph Duggar could be seen smirking in a newly-released mugshot after being extradited to Florida as he entered a not guilty plea after an underage accuser detailed shocking molestation claims to a detective
Days ago, it emerged that Joseph’s accuser, who is currently 14, alleged she suffered ‘several incidents of sexual abuse’ when she was nine years old on a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, according to the affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail.
She made the claims in a forensic interview she gave to a detective with the Tontitown Police Department, per an affidavit written by Deputy Sheriff Darrell Norris of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Lynn Haven, Florida.
At the time of the Florida vacation described in the document, Joseph and Kendra had two children and she was pregnant with their third.
Joseph’s accuser told a detective that during the Florida vacation, she ‘would sit on the defendant’s lap’ and he would ‘cradle [her] with his arms,’ the affidavit states.
As the holiday progressed, Joseph’s behavior is said to have evolved, according to the underage girl’s account of events as relayed in the legal document.
Joseph is claimed to have requested that she ‘sit on the couch beside [him],’ whereupon he supposedly ‘covered the parties with a blanket,’ per the affidavit.
The document adds: ‘Once the parties were covered, the defendant would pull the victim’s dress up and touch the victim’s thighs.’
The accuser also asserted that ‘during these incidents [Joseph’s] hand grazed [her] vagina’ and his ‘hand was outside of her underwear’ – an occurrence she said took place ‘several times,’ leaving her ‘confused’ and ‘uncomfortable.’
At the time of the Florida vacation described in the document, Joseph and his wife Kendra (left) had two children and she was pregnant with their third
Duggar’s original booking mugshot from Arkansas
Joseph’s accuser also said he ‘eventually approached the victim and apologized for his actions’ and then ‘the incidents stopped occurring,’ the affidavit claims.
After the underage girl gave her forensic interview to the Arkansas detective, Deputy Sheriff Darrell Norris in Florida – the officer who wrote the affidavit – ‘requested the detective and victim’s father call Joseph’ in order to obtain a confession from him.
The affidavit claims that during the call, Joseph ‘admitted his actions, stating he touched the victim over her clothing’ and ‘admitted his intentions were not pure.’
According to the authorities, a judge signed off on an affidavit that included the contents of that phone conversation, whereupon an arrest warrant was issued to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office then apparently sent the warrant to the police in Arkansas, leading to Joseph’s arrest in Tontitown.
He was taken into custody last week in connection with lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a statement from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Lynn Haven, Florida announced.
An investigator with the Tontitown Police Department in Tontitown, Arkansas reached out to the BCSO ‘regarding a report of past sexual abuse.’
An alleged victim, identified as a 14-year-old girl, told law enforcement about a series of inappropriate incidents Duggar was involved in around five years back, police said.
A warrant for Kendra’s arrest was issued on Friday but when law enforcement initially went to the Duggar family residence in Washington County, she was not there
The 19 Kids And County star is now facing additional charges including four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, the Tontitown Police Department told TMZ; Duggar seen above top far right
Authorities said then that the alleged incidents occurred in 2020, when the alleged victim was nine years old and on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach, Florida.
The 19 Kids And Counting star is now facing additional charges including four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment, the Tontitown Police Department told TMZ.
Duggar and Kendra’s new charges in Arkansas are reportedly not related to his case in the state of Florida.
Family members have since broken silence on his arrest, such as brother Josh – who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography.
His attorney told the Daily Mail: ‘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.’
The attorney said that the brothers ‘are not in frequent communication’ but Josh ‘hopes and prays for his brother’s well being in this difficult time.’
His sister Jill has also spoken out by uploading a post to her family blog which she shares with husband Derick Dillard.
Family members have since broken silence on his arrest , such as brother Josh – who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography; Josh’s 2021 mugshot seen above
Jill and Derick also sent love to Kendra and her four children in the post shared on Thursday, just one day before her arrest
‘We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother’s [Joseph Duggar’s] arrest,’ the message read.
‘We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.’
They added, ‘We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family.
‘We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.’
Jill and Derick also sent love to Kendra and her four children while praying ‘that they feel loved and supported during this time as we cannot imagine the indescribable pain they feel as they process and grieve everything.’
The post was uploaded on Thursday, just one day before Kendra’s arrest for allegedly endangering the welfare of a minor and false imprisonment.
Duggar’s mugshot was released on Wednesday evening by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The former reality star sported a thick beard, and he gazed forward with a stony expression, which notably contrasted the grinning 2021 mugshot of his brother Josh, which had also been snapped in Washington County.
The alleged victim told investigators that the family had been staying at a home located on Danny Drive at the time of the illegal incidents.
Joseph Duggar ‘repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,’ BCSO officials said, adding that his behavior appeared to escalate as the vacation continued.
In another incident, Joseph ‘asked [the victim] to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket, ‘rubbing’ his hands on her thighs.
Joseph Duggar ‘repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,’ BCSO officials said, adding that his behavior appeared to escalate as the vacation continued
‘During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.’
Duggar subsequently told the alleged victim he was sorry, and the incidents ceased, according to officials with the BCSO.
The father of the alleged victim confronted Joseph Duggar about what happened on Tuesday, at which time he admitted to his actions to the father and a detective in Tontitown, the BCSO said.
Joseph Duggar was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with Lewd and Lascivious Behavior – Molestation of a Victim Less Than 12-years-old; and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior Conducted By A Person 18 Years or Older.
Duggar’s confession to the girl’s father and a detective was included in an affidavit filed by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, which was obtained by People.
BCSO Criminal Investigator Chase Norris had then ‘requested the detective and victim’s father call the defendant.’
During the phone call, Duggar ‘admitted his actions’ and confessed that he ‘touched the victim over her clothing,’ per the affidavit.
At the time, the TV personality had ‘admitted his intentions were not pure.’
His cousin Amy Duggar also recently broke her silence to share she was ‘utterly shocked’ but ‘not surprised’ over his arrest.
She said in a statement to People on Friday: ‘In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry.’
Amy added, ‘My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust.
‘The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.’
She said in a statement to People on Friday: ‘In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry’
And while she was ‘utterly shocked’ over the allegations, Amy expressed that she is ‘not surprised that another alleged predator has emerged from this toxic system.’
Amy told the outlet that she has ‘worked hard to break cycles in both my extended family and my immediate family.’
She sent prayers to the alleged victim while adding, ‘Recognizing that we do not yet know the full picture, I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children.
‘I’m praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest.’
For those who have been impacted by sexual abuse, text ‘STRENGTH’ to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.