A new detail has come to light about 19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar, 31, who was arrested on March 18 in Tontitown, Arkansas, on child misconduct allegations.
The TV personality reportedly sent individual letters to his relatives, apologizing for “dragging the family name through the mud once again.”
With this statement, Duggar seemed to reference his older brother Josh’s arrest and sentencing for receiving and possessing child p**nography.
Highlights
- Joseph Duggar is facing serious charges over alleged misconduct with a minor.
- He reportedly sent heartfelt letters to his relatives, expressing regret for bringing shame to the family name.
- The letters surfaced after he changed his stance in the case, going from admitting wrongdoing before detectives to pleading not guilty in court.
Joseph Duggar begged his family for forgiveness in the letters
Image credits: Gettty/Handout
Duggar admitted to violating a 9-year-old in Florida during a family vacation in 2020, after being confronted by the girl’s father a day before his arrest.
A family source told Daily Mail on Wednesday, April 1, that Duggar is “embarrassed and humiliated” about his actions and understands that “some of us don’t want to talk to him now.”
“The number of people he has hurt is astronomical. Obviously, no one is as much as that little girl, but everyone is dealing with the fallout of this — his wife, Kendra, his kids, his entire family. This is horrifying, and honestly, we did deserve the apology,” they added.
Image credits: Washington County Sheriff's Office
The source, according to the outlet, has taken solace in the fact that Duggar, unlike his brother, “at least seems to feel bad about” subjecting his family to a tough time.
Josh Duggar, 38, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison in 2022. He remains incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Seagoville in Texas.
Image credits: littleduggarfamily
According to the Daily Mail, the two brothers also exchanged letters this past week from behind bars.
“From what I understand, Joe needs someone to talk to,” the insider said.
Image credits: Fourteenth Circuit
“And Josh is definitely the person who has been in his shoes before. He always looked up to Josh, so that kind of makes sense to me.”
The source said they are not aware of what kind of chat the two had via the letters, but hoped it was “some sort of acknowledgement of the pain they have caused” because anything else would be “totally pointless.”
Josh supported Joseph after his arrest via a statement issued through his attorney
Image credits: Gettty/Handout
“Josh understands the stigma of being accused,” his attorney, who, despite his guilty verdict, maintains his innocence, told Daily Mail.
“He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life,” the legal representative added, further divulging that though Josh and Joseph are “not in frequent communication,” his client “hopes and prays for his brother’s well-being in this difficult time.”
Joseph, according to the victim’s statement to authorities, began by asking her to sit on his lap.
His behavior escalated over the course of their vacation in Panama City Beach, including asking her to “sit next to him on a couch” and covering them with a blanket before allegedly manipulating her underwear and grazing her private parts.
Image credits: littleduggarfamily
Despite admitting his wrongdoing before a detective, Joseph pleaded not guilty to one count of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim under 12 and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct by a person 18 or older when he appeared before the Bay County Circuit Court in Florida on Tuesday, March 31.
He was released on a $600,000 bond the same day and flew back to Arkansas, per his attorney.
Joseph Duggar also faces charges in his home state, with his wife implicated alongside him
Image credits: Gettty/D Dipasupil
Two days after Joseph’s arrest, police in Tontitown, Arkansas, per People, said that he and Kendra were each being charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment.
Kendra, notably, was arrested on March 20 after officials searched the couple’s home as part of the investigation into Joseph’s alleged crimes.
Officials did not elaborate on the circumstances that led to her arrest.
Image credits: littleduggarfamily
A source close to the investigation told the outlet that Kendra is not accused or suspected in relation to Joseph’s Florida case. She was released after posting a $1,470 bond.
If convicted on all counts, the couple could be sentenced to up to eight years in prison, along with fines.
In the Florida case, Joseph faces a minimum of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison upon conviction.
He is next due in court on April 20.
"So shameful. Please dissociate yourself with such a man," a netizen advised Joseph's family
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