Kendra Duggar Tells Joseph Duggar She Hired Lawyer “Not for You”

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Kendra Duggar is preparing to head to court.

Just hours after being released from an Arkansas prison on charges related to a child’s welfare and false imprisonment on March 20th, the 27-year-old woman told her husband, Joseph Duggar, that she had hired attorney Travis Story. Joseph Duggar is currently in police custody, accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl during a 2020 family trip to Florida. Notably, Travis Story previously represented Josh Duggar, Joseph’s older brother, during his 2021 trial involving child pornography.

In a jail phone call from March 20th, published by People magazine, Kendra told Joseph that she had hired Travis as her lawyer.

Okay, so my husband, Joseph, and I – we’ve been married eight years and have four kids – were chatting about some legal stuff. He thanked me for the update, which was nice, but seemed a little confused about the details of the settlement. I had to quickly explain that the lawyer wasn’t actually working on our issues, but specifically on mine. It’s just one of those things when you’re navigating life and legal matters – clear communication is key!

She explained it was a personal decision, saying others had advised her she needed support with the issues involving her children.

Joseph faced the same minor charges as Kendra in Arkansas, plus an additional, more serious charge in Florida involving inappropriate sexual activity with a minor. His only response when informed was, “OK.”

TopMob News has reached out to Kendra and the Duggar family but has not yet heard back.

During that phone call, Joseph shared with Kendra that he was in solitary confinement and was reading the Bible to pass the time.

He described his daily life as being confined to a small cell – about 8 by 10 feet – for 23 hours a day. In a recording shared by People magazine, he said he’s been using the time to read and rest, but has trouble sleeping well.

Kendra seemed to be sympathetic to her husband’s arrangement, telling him, “Aww.”

When Joseph said it was nice to hear Kendra’s voice, she replied that it was good to hear from him too.

Joseph was arrested in Arkansas on March 18th, just two days before Kendra was arrested. He was supposed to be transferred to Florida, but as of March 27th, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas confirmed he was no longer in their custody, according to People magazine.

Since Joseph’s arrest, his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, along with other family members, have publicly discussed the accusations against him, expressing their sadness and heartbreak.

The Duggars are currently prioritizing their family and offering support to Kendra and her children as they navigate a challenging situation, a spokesperson told Us Weekly on March 30. They are also keeping the victim in their thoughts and prayers and have asked for privacy during this time. They are grateful for the outpouring of support and kind words they’ve received.

Read on to see what other members of the Duggar family have said amid Joseph’s arrest. 

Joseph’s parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar broke their silence in a statement on March 30.

A representative for the Duggar family shared with Us Weekly that Jim Bob and Michelle are deeply saddened by everything that’s happening. They are currently prioritizing supporting Kendra and her children through this challenging period.

The couple’s spokesperson said they are praying for the person harmed and asked for privacy during this difficult time. They are grateful for the support and kind thoughts everyone has shared.

On March 19th, we were surprised and upset to hear about the arrest of Jill’s brother, Joseph Duggar. We found out through a friend who sent us a text about news reports claiming he confessed to a crime involving 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.

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

Jason and Maddie shared a statement on Instagram on March 26th, saying they were deeply shocked, confused, and saddened by recent news. While they were personally affected, they emphasized their heartbreak for the child whose life has been disrupted by these terrible actions, stating that someone should never harm the vulnerable.

Maddie and I have always cared deeply about protecting those who are vulnerable, and we’ll continue to prioritize that. It’s horrifying 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 sadness that his children would grow up without the guidance of a father who should have been a strong spiritual influence in their lives.

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 such accusations can ruin a person’s life and how someone can be unfairly targeted for media attention, leading to distorted and exaggerated stories.

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

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’d had a tough week, explaining, “We’ve been working through this and praying about it as we prepared 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, and how it has impacted many people, as unimaginable and incredibly difficult.

“It’s incredibly difficult,” she said. “When something like this happens, all you can do is pray for strength and support – you can’t really prepare for news like that.”

In a statement to People magazine on March 20, Joseph’s cousin expressed feeling devastated, heartbroken, and furious. 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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2026-03-31 04:47