Joseph Duggar was arrested last week on child molestation charges.

Jason Duggar says he is ‘disgusted’ by news of brother Joseph’s arrest: ‘We stand with innocent children’

Joseph Duggar was arrested last week on child molestation charges.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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and Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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March 26, 2026 5:48 p.m. ET

Jason and Joseph Duggar. Credit:

Jason Duggar/Instagram; Washington County Sheriffs Department

Jason Duggar says he is "shocked" and "disgusted" by his older brother Joseph Duggar's arrest.

Joseph, 31, was arrested by the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida on March 18. He was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old, and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.

"We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions," read a statement posted by Jason, 25, and his wife Maddie on Instagram. "We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn't about how it's impacted our lives. Our hearts are burdened because a child's life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable. This is something unthinkable."

The sheriff's department said that Joseph's alleged victim, now 14, recently came forward with allegations that Joseph molested her when she was 9 while she was on a family vacation in 2020 in Florida.

The department said that Joseph "repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap" throughout the vacation, and that he "manipulated the victim's underwear and grazed her genitals" while covered with a blanket.

"We are angered by what was happened, and we pray God's righteous hand and the court system will serve justice in the situation as deserved," Jason continued. "Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so. To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile."

His statement concluded, "We ask that you pray for the victim who has been brave enough to share what has happened. We also ask that you pray for his family at this time, as his children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives. We stand with innocent children. Always."

Joseph Duggar on 'Counting On'.

Jason and Joseph's brother, Josh Duggar, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence after being convicted of possessing child pornography in 2021. Josh responded to Joseph's arrest via a statement from his lawyer.

"Josh understands the stigma of being accused," Josh Duggar's attorney told* *the *Daily Mail*. "He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction."

The attorney added that Josh "hopes and prays for his brother's well being in this difficult time."

'19 Kids and Counting' star Joseph Duggar's mug shot released

What to know about Joseph Duggar's wife and children amid his child molestation charges

The family of Joseph's sister, Jill Duggar Dillard, responded to Joseph's arrest in a blog post. "We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill's brother (Joseph Duggar's) arrest," the post began. "We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph's arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken."

The blog post continued, "We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead."

Joseph's cousin, Amy Duggar King, who also appeared on *19 Kids and Counting*, said in her own statement that she was "not surprised that another alleged predator has emerged from this toxic system."

"For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family," Duggar King said. "Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children. When an image is protected over truth, and silence is chosen over accountability, it creates an environment where abuse can thrive."

The Duggar family in 2014.

D Dipasupil/Getty

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The Duggars rose to fame with their TLC show *19 Kids and Counting*. However, their flagship show was canceled in 2015 after it was revealed that Josh was investigated in 2006 in connection with claims that he had molested five underage girls as a teenager, including four of his sisters and a babysitter.

The Duggars returned to TLC with a new show, *Counting On*, in 2015. That show was canceled in 2021 after Josh's child pornography conviction.

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