19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar’s wife, Kendra, has been released from jail hours after being arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor
Kendra Duggar has been charged, but released on a bond(Image: Washington County Sheriff’s Department)
Joseph Duggar’s wife, Kendra, has been released from jail on bail. She was taken into custody on Friday and charged with four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment.
Kendra was released from Washington County Detention Center at 6:19pm on Friday, on a $1,470 – just an hour and a half after she was booked. Her husband, Joseph, was arrested on Wednesday over allegations of child molestation. Joseph Garrett Duggar, recognised for his appearances on TLC’s reality show 19 Kids and Counting, allegedly admitted the crimes to the father of his nine-year-old victim, before being taken into custody.
Duggar faces charges of lewd and lascivious behaviour involving a victim under 12-years-old and lewd and lascivious behaviour toward a victim aged 18 or older in Florida. Florida authorities were notified by Arkansas police regarding allegations from a now 14-year-old individual, who stated she was 9-years-old when Duggar allegedly assaulted her on several occasions in 2020.
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On Friday, March 20, the Tontitown, Arkansas, Police Department released a statement to the press that confirmed that his wife, Kendra, had also been arrested and charged in connection with the case.
They confirmed: “As a result of the continuing investigation, additional charges have been filed in this case against Joseph Duggar, age 31, and Kendra Duggar, age 27.” The couple are now facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree.
According to a report from People, Kendra was booked at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, just before 5pm on Friday, and was subsequently released at 6:19pm the same day. She is now scheduled for a court hearing on Monday at 7:45am, before appearing in court again on April 29.
Officials have confirmed that the investigation is “active and ongoing,” adding that no other details surrounding the case will be released at this time to “protect the integrity of the investigation and the privacy of those involved.”
The Bay County Sheriff’s Department released a statement on Wednesday saying: “The 14-year-old victim participated in a forensic interview, where she disclosed several incidents involving Duggar that occurred during a family vacation in Panama City Beach when she was 9-years-old.”
“Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs,” the police department alleged. The victim stated that Duggar later apologised, and the behaviour ceased.
Additionally, Duggar allegedly “admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown Detectives.” He was arrested in Arkansas on March 18, from where he will be extradited to face the charges in Bay County.
The TLC series, which debuted in 2008, centred on Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their unusually large family and distinctive way of life. After nine seasons, the show was cancelled following accusations that one of their children, Josh Duggar, had molested multiple underage girls, including four of his sisters.
Though the alleged incidents were brought to the attention of authorities back in 2003, no immediate charges were filed. When officials were notified again in 2006, Arkansas’s statute of limitations had already expired. The allegations only became public through media reports.
At that time, he was employed by the Family Research Council, an American evangelical nonprofit advocacy organisation. The organisation’s president released a statement saying, “Josh believes that the situation will make it difficult for him to be effective in his current work. We believe this is the best decision for Josh and his family at this time. We will be praying for everyone involved.”
Further allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, subsequently surfaced. “Possessing and viewing child exploitation material is not a victimless crime — every time it’s downloaded or shared, it perpetuates the trauma and re-victimises the child,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Dave Denton at the time. “Our special agents are deeply committed to investigating these crimes and pursuing anyone, regardless of circumstances, who preys on innocent members of our society.” He was also convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography. Josh Duggar received a sentence of 12 years and seven months in prison.
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