Kendra Duggar Retains Separate Legal Counsel Following Arrest with Husband
Kendra Duggar, the wife of former 19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar, has taken steps to protect her legal interests following their recent arrests in Arkansas. The couple was taken into custody on March 18 and March 20, facing four misdemeanor counts each of false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child.
Separate Legal Representation Announced
During a jail call obtained by People magazine, the 27-year-old homemaker informed her 31-year-old husband that she had secured her own attorney ahead of their first court hearing scheduled for April 29. 'I've been talking to Travis [Story]. I've got him as my attorney now,' Duggar told Joseph, who remains incarcerated at the Washington County Detention Facility. 'I wasn't sure if you knew that, I've asked him to be my attorney... Well it's not for you, it's only for me.'
Immediate Release and Relocation
Kendra Duggar posted her $1,470 bond just 90 minutes after her March 20 booking and immediately left with the couple's four children:
- Son Garrett, age seven
- Daughter Addison, age six
- Daughter Brooklyn, age five
- Son Justus, age three
The Virginia native reportedly fled to a secluded private residence with the children, while Joseph Duggar's exact whereabouts remain unknown as he awaits extradition to Bay County in Florida.
Additional Serious Charges Against Joseph
While both face the same eight misdemeanor charges in Arkansas, Joseph Duggar separately faces two felony counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor. These charges stem from a 2020 incident in Florida where he was accused by a 14-year-old girl of inappropriate touching during a vacation to Panama City Beach when she was just nine years old.
According to TMZ, Joseph admitted 'his intentions were not pure' during a phone conversation with the girl's father and a detective on March 17.
Family Response and Brother's Support
The Duggar family released a statement expressing their heartbreak over the situation: 'Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation. Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time. They are praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.'
While several family members have condemned Joseph's actions, his incarcerated eldest brother Josh Duggar has expressed support. Josh's 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.'
Background of the Duggar Family Legal Issues
The Counting On couple originally met through Lighthouse Baptist Church in March 2017 when Kendra was 18, got engaged in May 2017, and married in September 2017. Their legal troubles come against the backdrop of previous family scandals.
Josh Duggar, the 37-year-old convicted sex offender, is currently serving a 12-year sentence at FCI Seagoville in Dallas, Texas, with his earliest possible release date set for October 2, 2032. He was convicted of receiving pornographic images of children under 12 years old, including disturbing content from murderer Peter Scully.
This followed Josh's 2015 revelation that he had molested five minors, including his own sisters Jessa and Jill, and had been unfaithful to his wife Anna through the Ashley Madison dating app. These scandals prompted TLC to cancel the family's reality show 19 Kids and Counting after ten seasons and forced Josh to resign from his position as executive director of the Family Research Council.
The Duggar family's legal challenges continue to unfold as both Joseph and Kendra prepare for their upcoming court appearances while navigating separate legal strategies in their defense.
