Authorities collected physical evidence and witness statements in Joseph Duggar's sexual abuse case as he awaits extradition to Florida
More details about the investigation into Joseph Duggar have been revealed after the former reality star was accused of sexually abusing a minor. Authorities have collected physical evidence and witness statements, according to a Bay County Sheriff's Office affidavit obtained by Us Weekly.
Duggar, 31, was arrested in Tontitown, Arkansas, on March 18 and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. He appeared in court virtually on March 20, where he did not enter a plea and waived his right to an extradition hearing.According to the BCSO’s affidavit, a 14-year-old female has accused Duggar of multiple instances of sexual abuse when she was 9 years old. The alleged incidents occurred in 2020 while the victim was on a family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. During a forensic interview with a detective from the Tontitown Police Department, the victim claimed that Duggar asked her to “sit on his lap” multiple times, at which point Duggar would allegedly “cradle the victim with his arms.” As the vacation continued, Duggar allegedly asked her to sit beside her on the couch and covered their bodies with a blanket before inappropriately touching her thigh and the outside of her underwear.Duggar eventually “apologized for his actions” and the incidents stopped, according to the victim. The victim’s father confronted Duggar about the incidents on March 17, during which time the 19 Kids and Counting alum admitted to his actions, according to the affidavit. During a subsequent phone call between the victim’s father and Duggar, he allegedly stated that he “touched the victim over her clothing” and admitted that his “intentions were not pure.” Joseph faced additional legal trouble when he and his wife, Kendra Duggar, were each charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree on March 20. A source exclusively told Us that Kendra’s arrest has “nothing to do” with Joseph’s. “After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there,” the source explained. “Apparently, they had two rooms where the lock of the doorknob was on the outside instead of inside. They arrested her and took her kids for that, saying it’s evidence that she wrongly detains her kids.” Before Kendra’s release, a judge required her to sign an agreement that she would “have no contact” with any of her “unnamed victims.” She is not to reach out to them “by telephone , in person, by computer or through other people.” If she violates these terms, she may face “a separate offense resulting in arrest and/or bond revocation” and could be “subject to jail pending trial.” Kendra is required to attend a hearing at Elm Springs and Tontitown District Court on April 29 at 2 p.m. local time.
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