Jason Duggar has publicly condemned his brother Joseph in harsh terms, just days after Joseph's arrest for allegedly molesting a nine-year-old girl. In a joint statement posted on Thursday with his wife, Maddie Grace Duggar, Jason lambasted his brother as 'vile' and described his alleged actions as 'evil'.
Family Statement Expresses Shock and Disgust
The couple spoke out about the accusations against Joseph on the same day that an affidavit surfaced detailing the 'several incidents of sexual abuse' the alleged victim claims to have experienced. Jason, 25, and Maddie, 22, wrote that they had 'spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions.'
'We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn't about how it's impacted our lives,' they continued. 'Our hearts are burdened because a child's life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable. This is something unthinkable.'
Prayers for Justice and the Victim
Jason and Maddie said they were 'angered by what has happened,' adding that they 'pray God's righteous hand and the court system will serve justice in the situation as described.'
'Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so,' Jason continued. 'To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile.'
They concluded the statement by asking followers to 'pray for the victim who has been brave enough to share what has happened. We also ask that you pray for his family at this time, as his children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives.'
Arrest and Additional Charges
Joseph, 31, was arrested last Wednesday in Tontitown, Arkansas, in connection with allegations that he touched a nine-year-old girl on her genitals and underwear during a family vacation in Florida. His wife Kendra, 27, was taken into custody on 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 now faces the same additional charges.
Kendra was released on bond about an hour and a half after her booking, while Joseph has signed an extradition waiver to face charges in Florida, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Detailed Allegations in Affidavit
Earlier on Thursday, it emerged that the father of four's accuser, who is now 14, alleged that she suffered 'several incidents of sexual abuse' on a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, when she was just nine years old, according to an affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail.
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.'
Confession and Legal Proceedings
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.
Family Reactions and Statements
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.
'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.'
Cousin Amy Duggar Speaks Out
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.'
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.'
