Joseph Duggar, a former cast member of the television show “19 Kids and Counting” on TLC, was taken into custody in Arkansas on Wednesday for engaging in inappropriate and illegal sexual conduct with a minor, as per authorities. The charges against Duggar stem from an incident that occurred in Florida in 2020. A 14-year-old girl, during a forensic interview in March 2026, accused Duggar of molesting her when she was nine years old while on a family trip to Panama City Beach.
Duggar was apprehended in Tontitown, Arkansas, the location where “19 Kids and Counting” was filmed. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office stated that the victim’s father confronted Duggar about the incidents on March 17, 2026, and Duggar confessed to his actions both to the victim’s father and to detectives in Tontitown.
The Tontitown Police Department issued a separate statement confirming the arrest warrant for Duggar on the same day. Duggar is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County. There has been no public response from Duggar or his family regarding the allegations.
This arrest follows the legal troubles of Joseph Duggar’s sibling, Josh Duggar, who was convicted for possessing images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. Federal authorities initiated an investigation after discovering child sexual abuse material being shared from a computer linked to Josh Duggar at a car dealership he owned in Little Rock, Arkansas. Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12½ years in prison in 2022.
The reality show “19 Kids and Counting” was canceled by TLC in 2015 after allegations surfaced that Josh Duggar had molested his sisters and a babysitter years earlier. The network terminated the show due to the serious nature of the allegations. Joseph Duggar expressed shock upon learning about his brother’s hidden activities, stating his disappointment in a clip from the TLC special “Jill & Jessa: Counting On” in 2015.
Duggar’s parents acknowledged the allegations in 2015, stating that Josh had confessed and privately apologized for his actions. Josh Duggar also resigned from his position as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council following the scandal.
