How Jana Duggar Found Out About Brother Joseph Duggar’s Arrest

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Jana Duggar is speaking out about her brother Joseph Duggar‘s run-in with the law.

After Joseph was arrested on accusations of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl during a Florida vacation in 2020, the 36-year-old stated she was “deeply saddened and heartbroken” when she learned about the allegations through news reports.

Jana and Stephen Wissmann said they were shocked by the news, explaining they hadn’t known about it before it was made public. In a joint statement posted on April 2nd, they expressed their sympathy for the child involved, calling the situation a terrible and unacceptable act.

The couple, who had a son in December, shared that they are still praying for the victim and hoping for justice.

I was shocked to hear about the arrest of Joseph, who’s only 31 and from Arkansas. He was brought down to Florida and appeared in court on March 31st, where he denied the very serious charges against him – allegations of inappropriate sexual activity with a minor. It’s a truly disturbing case, and I’m following it closely.

He was released after posting a $600,000 bond, but the judge ordered him to stay away from the person he allegedly harmed and from all children, including his four children with his wife, Kendra Duggar.

Beyond his legal issues in Florida, he and Kendra, 27, are also accused of endangering a child and unlawfully restricting someone’s freedom in Arkansas. They haven’t yet responded to these accusations in court.

During a phone call, Kendra described how Joseph’s family was coping with the news of his arrest while he was in jail.

She shared in a recording, published by TMZ, that no matter what, people care about you—even when they’re upset. She emphasized that their love is still there.

Kendra added that she and the family are leaning on their faith at this time.

Oh my gosh, she said it again! It’s like her mantra, you know? She told Joseph, and it just resonates with me so much, that God will help them through everything, just one day, even one moment at a time. It’s so beautiful and hopeful, honestly. It’s how she’s choosing to live now, and it’s just… everything.

For more of what Joseph’s family has said about his arrest, read on.

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

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are deeply saddened by everything that’s happening,” a family spokesperson told Us Weekly. “Their priority right now is supporting their family and being there for Kendra and her children as they go through this tough time.

The couple’s spokesperson said they are thinking of the victim and asked for privacy during this difficult time. They are grateful for the support and prayers they’ve received.

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

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

Josh is keenly aware of the damage that accusations can cause, his lawyer explained to the Daily Mail on March 20th. He personally understands how false claims can ruin someone’s life and how someone can be unfairly targeted to create a dramatic, but untrue, story.

The attorney stated that Josh, who is currently in prison for 12 years due to child pornography charges, doesn’t communicate often with his brother, Joseph. He added that Josh wishes Joseph well and is praying for him during this challenging period.

As many of you know, my brother, Joseph, is going through a really difficult time, and my husband and I are absolutely devastated. Honestly, we were completely blindsided by this news – it was the first we heard of it, and we’re still processing everything, just like everyone else. It’s been a shock to our whole family.

We are deeply saddened by the harm done to this child, and we condemn this unacceptable act. Our thoughts are with the victim, and we hope for a just outcome.

The couple, married this year, expressed their outrage at what they called the shocking behavior of Joseph, his brother.

Jason and Maddie shared a statement on Instagram on March 26th, saying they were deeply shocked, confused, and saddened by recent news. While they acknowledged their own distress, they emphasized their heartbreak for the child whose life has been devastated by someone who abused their position of trust. They expressed disgust at the news regarding their brother, but focused their concern on the victim.

Maddie and I have always cared deeply about protecting those who are vulnerable, and we’ll continue to prioritize that. It’s awful to think someone would misuse their power to harass others.

The community requested prayers for the victim, described as brave, and for Joseph’s family. They expressed sorrow that his children now have to cope with the loss of a father who should have guided them spiritually.

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.”

On the March 25th episode of The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast, Jeremy shared that they had a tough week trying to understand and pray about something, and it was impacting the podcast.

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 unimaginable and incredibly difficult, especially considering how many people it has impacted.

“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 news this devastating.”

In a statement to People magazine on March 20, Joseph’s cousin expressed feeling devastated, heartbroken, and furious. They said their primary 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 that meant disagreeing with my own family. I believe you shouldn’t automatically trust or give anyone access simply because they’re family, particularly when children’s well-being is at stake.

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2026-04-03 03:47