Content warning: This story discusses child sexual abuse.
Another member of the Duggar family is in police custody.
Following Josh Duggar’s 2022 prison sentence of 12 years for possessing child pornography, his brother, Joseph Duggar, is now facing accusations of sexually abusing a child.
I was really saddened to hear about the recent arrest of Joseph, age 31, in Arkansas on March 18th. He’s facing very serious charges related to inappropriate behavior with a minor, and multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in the case. It’s a truly disturbing situation, and I want to emphasize the importance of protecting children and reporting any suspected abuse.
The accusation comes from an incident in 2020 where the former star of 19 Kids and Counting is alleged to have sexually abused a 9-year-old girl while on vacation with his family in Panama City Beach, Florida. This information was released in a statement by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on March 18th.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the 14-year-old girl reported past sexual abuse to police and shared multiple incidents she claims involved the TLC star.
According to the department’s statement, the victim said Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. Throughout the vacation, he also asked her to sit close to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During these instances, Duggar touched her underwear and grazed her genital area, and he continued to rub her thighs.
According to authorities, the girl said the abuse ended after Joseph apologized for what he had done.
After being questioned by the victim’s father on March 17, Joseph confessed to what he had done, both to the father and to detectives in Tontitown, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Police in Tontitown, Arkansas arrested Joseph around 3:00 p.m. local time. He is now being prepared for transfer to Bay County.
TopMob News has reached out to the Duggar family for comment and hasn’t heard back.
When the alleged incident occurred, Joseph had been married to Kendra Caldwell for approximately three years. They are parents to four children, ranging in age from 3 to 7 years old.
Josh, age 38, has been charged with possessing child sexual abuse material. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville say he repeatedly downloaded and watched images and videos showing the sexual abuse of children, including very young victims and depictions of extreme abuse.
The father of seven received a 12-year prison sentence, followed by 20 years of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender and pay $50,000 in fines.
When the alleged incident occurred, Joseph had been married to Kendra Caldwell for around three years. They have four children, ranging in age from 3 to 7 years old.
Josh, age 38, has been charged with possessing child sexual abuse material. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville say he repeatedly downloaded and watched images and videos showing the sexual abuse of children, including very young children, and depictions of extreme abuse.
The father of seven received a 12-year prison sentence, followed by 20 years of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender and pay $50,000 in fines.
The Supreme Court denied Josh’s appeal in June 2024, but he maintains that he didn’t receive a fair trial and is still working to have his conviction overturned, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Read on for more information on the Duggar family.
This couple, who fell in love in high school, are now parents to 19 children and grandparents to more than 36 grandchildren.
Michelle remembers accepting a religious faith at age 15. Shortly after, Jim Bob was visiting homes in the neighborhood as part of his church’s outreach program. A friend mentioned that a newly religious cheerleader lived at the Ruark family’s house, so Jim Bob went and knocked on their door.
Jim Bob and Michelle first met when they invited her to Sunday school at their church, and Jim Bob prayed they would become each other’s spiritual guides. However, Michelle didn’t remember the meeting as vividly. A year later, she applied for a job at the frozen yogurt shop owned by Jim Bob’s parents. As Michelle recalled in a 2017 blog post for Jim Bob’s birthday and their 33rd anniversary, he approached her at the counter, introduced himself, and, after being shy at first, finally asked her to the junior-senior banquet.
Michelle and Jim Bob first connected at a dinner held at Shiloh Christian. However, it was the hours they spent talking about the Bible at her parents’ house afterward that really solidified their connection. As Michelle explained, that’s when they felt their hearts truly connected. They graduated high school in May 1984 and were married just two months later in July. Michelle was 17 at the time, and Jim Bob was 19.
The couple dedicated themselves to God and each other for the long run.
Jim Bob previously served as a state representative for Arkansas’s sixth district from 1999 to 2002, where he was vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee. He unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2002 and later sought the Republican nomination for Arkansas State Senate District 35 in 2006, but was not selected.
I’ve been following Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar for years, and it’s always been clear they’re deeply involved in conservative activism. As licensed realtors, they’re very active in causes they believe in. It’s interesting to see how that side of their lives has played out alongside their reality TV show – 19 Kids and Counting (originally 17 Kids and Counting when it started in 2008). They’ve definitely had both strong supporters and vocal critics because of it all, and I’ve watched it all unfold!
As of October 2024, they were grandparents of 33 with three on the way.
Josh Duggar, the oldest of the Duggar children, was born on March 3, 1988. Like his parents, he became involved in conservative activism, working with the Family Research Council.
Josh Duggar resigned after police records from 2015 revealed accusations that he had sexually abused several girls, including his sisters Jessa and Jill, when he was a teenager. In a June interview with Fox News, Jessa defended her brother, claiming the accusations were exaggerated and untrue, and stated she was one of the victims herself.
His wife, Anna Duggar, whom he married on September 26, 2008, in a ceremony shown on the show 19 Kids and Counting, remained supportive, even after he confessed to infidelity.
In 2016, when he began treatment, his parents described it as an important start to his recovery process.
Anna and her husband have seven children: Mackynzie (born October 8, 2009), Michael (born June 15, 2011), Marcus (born June 2, 2013), Meredith (born July 16, 2015), Mason Garett (born September 12, 2017), Maryella Hope (born November 27, 2019), and Madyson Lily (born October 23, 2021). The cancellation of their TLC show, 19 Kids, coincided with the birth of their fourth child, Meredith, in 2015.
In April 2021, Josh was indicted by a federal court on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. He initially pleaded not guilty to both charges. However, in 2022, he was convicted on both counts, though the judge later dismissed the possession charge. He was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison.
Soon after Josh arrived, Michelle became pregnant again, but sadly had a miscarriage. While they were still mourning that loss and seeking direction, Michelle and Jim Bob were overjoyed to discover they were expecting twins.
It felt like a wonderful gift from God, a real encouragement to us,” she explained. “We’re still figuring things out as we go. It’s pretty rare, since I nurse my babies, but they’re born so close together – I get pregnant again just eight months after having a baby. It’s just another unique thing happening in our family, and we believe God is guiding us through it.
John-David Duggar and his twin sister Jana Duggar were born on Jan. 12, 1990.
Oh my goodness, I was so excited when John-David and Abbie-Grace finally got together! It wasn’t totally out of the blue, you know? They’d been aware of each other for years, which is adorable, but they really connected at this church event back in Oklahoma, Abbie’s home state. And then, everything moved so fast! A quick engagement, and boom – November 3rd, 2018, they were married! It was the most wonderful thing ever!
They welcomed daughter Grace Annette Duggar on Jan. 7, 2020 and son Charlie Duggar in September 2022.
On their 30th birthday in January 2020, Jana shared a heartfelt message about her and John. People had always asked if they shared a special ‘twin connection,’ like feeling each other’s emotions or knowing what the other was thinking. Jana had always said no, but she explained that when their daughter, Gracie, was born, she felt just as much joy as John did. She jokingly concluded that maybe that ‘twin thing’ was actually real!
You know, watching you and Abbie become parents has been such a joy! It really suits you both, and honestly, you’re already doing a fantastic job. I’ve always admired what a great brother you are, and I can see all those same wonderful qualities shining through in how you’re approaching fatherhood. You’re a natural!
Abbie and John-David discovered in November 2025, while celebrating with Jana at her baby shower, that they are expecting a baby girl.
Jana watched eleven of her eighteen siblings get married before she met her husband, Stephen Wissmann. Stephen’s sister, Hannah, is married to Jana’s brother, Jeremiah. Although it was sometimes frustrating waiting for her turn, Jana believes everything happened according to God’s plan.
Jana explained to People magazine that she’s marrying later in life because she trusts that God has a plan for everyone. ‘We all have unique paths,’ she said, ‘and if we were all the same, life would be pretty dull.’ Her wedding is scheduled for August 15, 2024.
On Dec. 30, 2025, the couple welcomed their first child, son Archie Gerald Wissmann.
Jill Dillard (born May 17, 1991) met her husband, Derick, in a sweet way that reminded people of her parents’ love story. He stopped by the Duggar family home with his church caroling group during Christmas 2011, and they first met then. Derick grew up about 45 minutes from the Duggars.
Jim Bob introduced Jill and Derick, and they quickly connected through email and video calls. That November, Jill and her father visited Derick in Nepal, and their relationship blossomed. In February 2014, Derick formally asked Jim Bob for Jill’s hand in marriage, and they were married on June 21, 2014. They now have three sons: Israel, born April 6, 2015, Samuel, born July 8, 2017, and Frederick, born July 7, 2022.
In April 2024, Jill announced that she and Derick had experienced a miscarriage while expecting a baby girl, their first daughter.
As a longtime follower, it was really tough watching Jill and Derick open up in the Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets documentary on Amazon Prime Video, which came out in June 2023. They really delved into all the controversies and beliefs that have surrounded their family, and it was a lot to process.
Jim Bob and Michelle’s fifth child, Jessa Duggar, was born Nov. 4, 1992.
Jessa and Ben met at church, and he began courting her in 2013. This traditional approach to romance was new to many viewers. Because the couple didn’t discuss their relationship before getting engaged, Jim Bob explained to People magazine that courting involves getting to know each other with both families involved, and setting goals together to see if they’re a good match for marriage. He contrasted this with dating, where couples often spend time alone, which can sometimes lead to physical intimacy.
Ben asked for Jessa’s father’s permission, and then proposed to her in August 2014 – it was the first time they’d held hands! They married quickly on November 1, 2014. Jessa was pregnant with their first child when their show, 19 Kids and Counting, was canceled. TLC then aired a special featuring Jessa and her sister Jill, discussing sexual abuse and aiming to raise awareness. That winter, Jessa and Jill became the stars of a new show, Jill and Jessa: Counting On, which later became Counting On and included more of the Duggar family.
Jessa and Ben have four children: Spurgeon, born November 5, 2015; Henry, born February 6, 2017; Ivy Jane, born May 28, 2019; and Fern, born in July 2021. They sadly experienced a miscarriage during the 2022 holidays, but welcomed their newest son, George, in December 2023.
In August 2025, Jessa announced the birth of son Edward.
The sixth Duggar child, Jinger Vuolo, was born Dec. 21, 1993.
Jinger and Jeremy first connected while doing ministry work in Laredo, Texas, and began dating in 2016. They got married on November 5, 2016—which happened to be the birthday of Jinger’s nephew, Spurgeon—and quickly faced speculation that they were expecting a baby. (It’s not easy to avoid overlapping important dates when you’re part of a large family of nineteen children!)
In June 2017, on an episode of Counting On, Jinger shared that she and her family hoped to be settled and continuing their ministry work in Laredo, simply looking for ways to serve God.
The couple’s daughter, Felicity, was born on July 19, 2018. They had previously announced in May of that year that they were expecting another child, but shared that Jinger had experienced a miscarriage in the fall of 2017. Their second daughter, Evangeline Jo, arrived in November 2020.
Son Finnegan Charles was born March 29, 2025.
Joseph Duggar, born on January 20, 1995, proposed to Kendra Caldwell in May 2017. They had met through church and had only been courting for a few months when he proposed at his sister Joy-Anna’s wedding.
Honestly, when I proposed, I was a little nervous, but I felt really good about it because she’d already told me she was ready and waiting for me! That’s what I told People afterward. And Kendra? She was just over the moon – totally happy and completely shocked! She said she had so much she wanted to say, but she was just speechless with happiness.
The couple has welcomed three children: Garrett, born in June 2018, Addison, born in November 2019, and Brooklyn, born in February 2021.
Eighth in line, Josiah Duggar was born on Aug. 28, 1996.
After publicly dating for only a few months, the couple announced they were engaged in March 2018. He shared that he proposed to Lauren at the same location where her parents had gotten engaged, explaining the property held a lot of family history and was particularly meaningful to her.
Lauren’s future mother-in-law, Michelle, shared in a video on the family’s blog how much they adore her, calling her a “precious girl.” Jessa and Ben also congratulated the couple and gave them chocolates shaped like hearts and kisses. Michelle jokingly said, “I’m guessing you want to save your first kiss for the wedding!” while holding up the chocolates as a fun consolation prize.
Josiah previously dated Marjorie Jackson, but they ended their relationship in the summer of 2015. He told People magazine in March 2016 that they had enjoyed their time together and were trying to discern what God wanted for them. Ultimately, Marjorie didn’t feel the timing was right, so they decided to take a break.
He and Lauren got married on June 30, 2018, and described their wedding day as “absolutely perfect” to People magazine. They had their first daughter, Bella Milagro, on November 8, 2019—a name meaning “miracle baby”—after Lauren experienced a miscarriage in October 2018. Their family grew with the arrival of another daughter, Daisy, in 2022, and a son named Ezra in May 2023.
Ninth sibling Joy-Anna Duggar was born Oct. 28, 1997.
Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth had been friends for 15 years before they began dating. They quickly fell in love, with Austin proposing in February 2017. Just a few months later, on May 26, 2017, they got married at Cross Church in Rogers, Arkansas – the same wedding where Joseph Duggar proposed to Kendra Caldwell!
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following Joy-Anna and Austin’s growing family, and it’s been such a joy! They welcomed their first son, Gideon Martin Forsyth, back in February of 2018, and then their sweet daughter, Evelyn Mae Forsyth, arrived in August 2020. Most recently, in May of 2023, they completed their trio with the arrival of their son, Gunner James Forsyth. What a beautiful family!
Jed and Jeremiah Duggar, the second set of twins born to Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, arrived on December 30, 1998.
Jed and Katey Nakatsu got married in April 2021 after dating for a year. They have two children: a son named Truett, born in May 2022, and a daughter named Nora Kate, born in June 2023.
Jed and Katey shared the exciting news in July 2024 that they were expecting twin girls. Elsie Kate and Emma Kate arrived on January 8, 2025.
Jeremiah is a certified flight instructor and is married to Hannah Wissmann, who is the sister of Stephen (Jana’s husband). They have two daughters: Brynley, born in December 2022, and Brielle, born in February 2024.
They announced the arrival of their third daughter, Emery ‘Emy’ Jane Duggar, on May 18, 2025.
No. 12 Jason Duggar was born on April 21, 2000.
In January 2017, the Daily Mail said Jim Bob assisted Jase in purchasing a run-down house in Prairie Grove, Arkansas—roughly 30 minutes from the Duggar family’s home. Jase then launched his own construction business.
He publicly revealed his relationship with Maddie Grace on Instagram in May 2024, and they got married in October of the same year.
Charmed No. 13, James Duggar was born July 7, 2001.
He’s not currently dating anyone publicly, but he’s a very loving and involved uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Mom Michelle described James as the ‘fun uncle’ – someone all the younger boys admire and want to emulate. She wrote this on his 19th birthday in 2019, noting he could seemingly build or fix anything he set his mind to. Even when he was little, he loved taking things apart – appliances, toys, anything – to see how they worked. He wasn’t just taking them apart, though; he’d always put them back together, often with his own creative improvements!
James put in a lot of effort this year and earned his commercial driver’s license! He’s now skilled at operating large trucks and heavy equipment, and we’re excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for him.
No. 14 Justin Duggar arrived on Nov. 15, 2002.
He started dating Claire Spivey in September 2020, and they announced their engagement the following November. They were married on February 26, 2021.
Jackson Duggar, the fifteenth child of Jim Bob and Michelle, was born on May 23, 2004. He’s pictured here with his older sister, Jill.
On Jackson’s sixteenth birthday, his mom, Michelle, complimented his funny personality and said she knew he was eager to get his driver’s license.
Johannah Duggar was born on October 11, 2005, which is why her family was featured in the special called 16 Kids and Moving In.
On her daughter’s fifteenth birthday in 2020, Michelle wrote about how much joy her daughter brings to everyone. She described her as friendly and someone who easily makes connections with others. Michelle also shared how much her younger sisters love and admire her, and expressed her gratitude for being her mother.
Jennifer Duggar arrived on Aug. 2, 2007, then the baby of the family.
Their TLC show that premiered Sept. 29, 2008, was christened 17 Kids and Counting.
Now, OMG, she’s a teenager.
When her daughter, Jennifer, turned thirteen, Michelle described her as someone who is reliable, loyal, and a joy to be around! Jennifer is loved by all her younger cousins, who constantly want her to carry them. She also has a big heart for animals, making sure to care for her pets daily. Recently, she even helped raise a whole litter of seven bunnies!
Here on the right, the penultimate Duggar child was born Dec. 18, 2008.
Jordyn-Grace was described by her mom in 2019 as a friendly and sociable person who quickly connects with anyone she meets. Her laugh was also noted as being particularly cheerful and a highlight of their day.
Josie Duggar, number 19 in her family, is pictured here with her niece, Meredith. She was born on December 10, 2009, three months early and weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces. She spent six months receiving care in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).
Michelle described her daughter Josie as having endless energy in a birthday post from 2020. She wrote that Josie is constantly on the go, from the moment she wakes up until bedtime!
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2026-03-19 04:53