Duggar family member arrested, being extradited to Bay County, BCSO says
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Bay County Sheriff’s Office stated Joseph Garrett Duggar, 31, who appeared on the TV present “19 Kids and Counting,” was arrested Wednesday for crimes in opposition to a minor that allegedly occurred in Panama City Beach.
BCSO stated Duggar has been charged with lewd and lascivious conduct, together with molestation of a sufferer youthful than 12, and lewd and lascivious conduct carried out by an individual 18 or older.
Bay County investigators had been contacted Wednesday by a Tontitown police detective a few report of previous sexual abuse. The 14-year-old sufferer, throughout a forensic interview, revealed what occurred to Duggar throughout a family trip in Panama City Beach when she was 9.
According to the investigation, the occasions occurred when the family was staying at a house on Danny Drive.
BCSO stated the sufferer reported Duggar repeatedly requested her to sit on his lap. He additionally requested her to sit beside him on a sofa and coated them with a blanket. Allegedly, Duggar then manipulated her underwear, grazed her genitals, and continued to rub his arms on her thighs, BCSO stated.
BCSO stated the sufferer reported Duggar finally apologized, and the actions stopped after the apology.
BCSO stated investigators found the sufferer’s father confronted Duggar about what occurred on March 17, 2026. Duggar admitted his actions to the sufferer’s father and to Tontitown detectives, BCSO stated.
Duggar was arrested out of state and faces expenses of lewd and lascivious conduct, together with molestation of a sufferer youthful than 12 and lewd and lascivious conduct by somebody 18 or older.
Duggar is at present awaiting extradition to Bay County.
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