Joseph Duggar’s Wife Kendra Pleads Not Guilty to Child Endangerment

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Kendra Duggar is pushing back on allegations.

Joseph Duggar’s wife entered a plea of not guilty to charges of endangering a child and unlawful imprisonment. Her attorney, Travis W. Story, filed the plea with the court on April 27, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

Kendra, who has four young children with Joseph, was also allowed to end a no-contact order that started on March 20th. This was the same day she was arrested in Arkansas, according to court records.

According to TMZ, Kendra’s lawyers stated that the people who accused her actually want to reconnect with her, and keeping them apart would hinder necessary assessments for the case. Now, the Arkansas Department of Human Services will assist in trying to reunite Kendra with those individuals.

TopMob News has reached out to Kendra’s lawyer for comment but hasn’t heard back.

A representative for the Duggar family told People magazine that the charges against Kendra are completely separate from the accusations her husband is facing in Florida. He was arrested on March 18th and is facing charges related to child molestation.

While the couple was dealing with legal issues, Kendra’s sister-in-law, Anna Duggar, had previously emailed Joseph, who was 31 and in jail at the time, to let him know his wife wasn’t allowed to visit their children.

In an email from March 21st, Anna noted the person she spoke with seemed confident during their phone conversation, but became upset when discussing not being able to see her children for another month. She ended the email by saying she felt deeply sorry for everyone involved.

Kendra later contacted Joseph, and a recorded jail phone call from March 24th – obtained by TopMob – revealed she was working to protect their children.

“Taking care of them is what matters most to me right now,” Kendra explained to her husband of nearly nine years. He responded by saying he fully supported her and agreed she needed to prioritize their well-being.

She wanted to make sure I understood that, no matter what happened, her priority would always be the same.

After being arrested in Arkansas, Joseph was brought to Florida to face charges. He entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim under the age of 12, and for being an adult at the time of the offense.

Joseph was released from jail after posting a $600,000 bond and returned to Arkansas to be with Kendra, according to his lawyer, Albert J. Sauline III, who spoke with People magazine in early April. Sauline also stated that, as a condition of his release – which prevents him from contacting any minors, including the person who accused him – Joseph did not see his children upon his return.

Besides the charges he’s facing in Florida, Joseph is also accused of endangering a child and unlawfully holding someone captive in Arkansas. It’s currently unknown whether he has responded to these charges in court.

TopMob has also reached out to his attorney for comment but has not heard back.

For what the Duggar family has said about Joseph’s legal troubles, read on.

Joseph Duggar‘s parents broke their silence in a statement on March 30.

A Duggar family spokesperson told Us Weekly that Jim Bob and Michelle are deeply saddened by everything that’s happening. They are currently prioritizing supporting their family, especially Kendra and her children, as they go through this challenging period.

The spokesperson said the couple is praying for the person who was hurt and requests privacy during this difficult time. They are grateful for the support and kind thoughts they’ve received.

On March 19th, we were surprised to hear about the arrest of Jill’s brother, Joseph Duggar. We found out through a friend who sent us a text message about news reports claiming Joseph confessed to sexually abusing a young girl in 2020. We are both shocked and deeply saddened by this news.

Derick and Jill, who publicly shared their experiences with the family in the 2023 book Counting the Cost, stated they firmly denounce abuse.

Josh is deeply aware of the damage that false accusations can cause, his lawyer explained to the Daily Mail on March 20th. He knows firsthand how accusations can ruin someone’s life and how a person can be unfairly targeted for media attention, leading to distorted and exaggerated stories.

I’ve been following this case closely, and it’s heartbreaking. I understand Josh is currently serving a 12-year sentence, and while he and Joseph aren’t in regular contact, I heard through his lawyer that he’s really hoping for his brother’s health and happiness during this incredibly tough time. It just shows even with everything going on, family still matters.

Jana and her husband shared on Instagram that they were devastated to learn about the situation involving her brother, Joseph. They said the news was completely unexpected and they hadn’t known anything about it beforehand.

We are deeply saddened by the harm done to this child, and we condemn this terrible act. Our thoughts are with the victim and their family, and we hope justice will be served.

The couple, married this year, expressed their outrage at the actions of Joseph, his brother, calling them shocking and unacceptable.

Jason and Maddie released a statement on Instagram on March 26th saying they were devastated and heartbroken by recent news. While deeply affected personally, they emphasized their concern for the child whose life has been tragically impacted by these harmful actions, stating that someone should never harm the vulnerable.

Maddie and I have always cared deeply about protecting those who are vulnerable, and that will never change,” their message continued. “The idea that someone would use their power to harass innocent people is truly disgusting.

The community requested prayers for the victim, described as brave, and for Joseph’s family. They noted the particularly difficult impact on his children, who are now growing up without the father and spiritual guide they deserved.

Joy-Anna shared on Instagram on March 26th that she was devastated by the recent news about her brother. She expressed her sympathy for the victim and said she’s been deeply upset and taking time to cope with the situation.

She added, “I will be taking some much-needed time with my family.”

As Jeremy shared on the podcast on March 25th, it’s been a tough week for us. We’ve really been taking the time to process everything, think it through, and pray about it all, and it’s been weighing on us as we’ve recorded.

Jinger, who relocated to Los Angeles with Jeremy in 2019, shared that she was deeply heartbroken this week. She described the pain and sadness they’ve experienced as devastating, especially considering the impact it’s had on others. She said it’s been incredibly difficult and painful in many ways.

“It’s incredibly difficult,” she said. “When something like this happens, all you can do is pray for strength and help, because you can’t possibly prepare for such news.”

In a statement to People magazine on March 20, Joseph’s cousin expressed profound sadness, anger, and disgust. They said their immediate concern was for the young victim, who should have been safe, cared for, and surrounded by trustworthy people.

Amy explained she was “utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph’s arrest.”

I’ve always believed in honesty, taking responsibility for your actions, and keeping children safe, even if it meant disagreeing with my own family. Protecting children is so important that family relationships shouldn’t automatically guarantee trust or access.

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2026-04-28 13:49