Joseph Duggar, Ex-'19 Kids And Counting' Star, Accused Of Molesting A Minor

Joseph Garrett Duggar, who starred connected nan TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting,” was arrested Wednesday aft he was accused of molesting a 9-year-old woman six years agone during a picnic successful Florida.

The 31-year-old is accused of lewd and lascivious behaviour — molestation of a unfortunate little than 12 years-old — and lewd and lascivious behaviour conducted by a personification 18 years aliases older, nan Bay County Sheriff's Office successful Florida said successful a news release.

He was arrested by constabulary successful Tontitown, Arkansas, and is awaiting extradition to Bay County, which covers Panama City.

Tontitown constabulary said successful connection that they received a study of a intersexual maltreatment earlier Wednesday and reported it to nan Bay County Sheriff's Department, arsenic nan alleged incident had occurred there.

In an interview, nan now 14-year-old woman told constabulary that Duggar allegedly touched her inappropriately connected respective occasions during a family picnic successful Panama City Beach successful 2020, nan Bay County Sheriff’s Office said.

The woman said Duggar many times asked her to beryllium connected his lap, nan sheriff's agency said. During nan people of nan vacation, Duggar besides asked nan woman to beryllium adjacent to him connected a sofa and utilized a broad to screen nan some of them, nan unfortunate told police, aft which he allegedly touched her genitals and rubbed his hands connected her thighs.

Joseph Garrett Duggar during a 2016 interview.Ida Mae Astute / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images file

The unfortunate said nan incidents stopped aft Duggar yet apologized, according to nan sheriff's office.

The Duggar family and TLC did not instantly respond to a petition for remark Wednesday night.

The sheriff's agency said nan girl's begetter confronted Duggar astir nan alleged maltreatment connected Tuesday. "Duggar admitted his actions to nan victim’s begetter and to Tontitown Detectives," nan agency said.

Tontitown constabulary said officers received a warrant by nan Bay County Sheriff’s Office astatine 3 p.m. Wednesday for Duggar’s arrest.

The Duggar family roseate to fame connected nan deed TLC show "19 Kids and Counting," which aired for 10 seasons from 2008 to 2015 and followed nan location life of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar and their 19 children.

The show was axed successful 2015 pursuing revelations that nan eldest son, Josh Duggar, had molested 5 children, including 4 of his sisters.

Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12 1/2 years successful national situation successful 2022 for receiving and possessing kid activity maltreatment images.