19 Kids and Counting alum Amy Duggar King has expressed her “utter shock” about her cousin Joseph Duggar’s arrest on a molestation charge, after he was accused of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in Florida.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday that Joseph, 31, had been arrested after a police detective in Tonitown, Arkansas, contacted them about a report of sexual abuse. The victim reported that, during a vacation to Panama City Beach in 2020, when she was nine, Joseph “repeatedly” requested that she sit on his lap and next to him on a couch, according to police.
Amy – the niece of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who were raising 19 kids in the TLC television show — is speaking out about Joseph’s arrest, sharing a statement with People Friday.
“In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry,” the 39-year-old said. “My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust.”
“The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.”
She said that while she was “utterly shocked” about the sexual abuse allegations and her cousin’s arrest, she’s 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,” added Amy, who wrote about the dynamics of the Duggar family and called them manipulative in her 2015 memoir, Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth.
“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.”
After stating that she’s “praying for the victim and her family,” she noted that she doesn’t “yet know the full picture,” and sent a message to Joseph’s loved ones.
“I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children. I’m praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest,” she concluded.
Joseph’s sister, Jill, and her family also issued a statement about his arrest on the Dillard Family Blog Thursday.
“We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved,” the post reads. “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 made his first court appearance Friday via Zoom, where he waived his right to an extradition hearing in Arkansas. He will now be transferred to Bay County, Florida, to face the molestation charge.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office said on Wednesday that a “14-year-old victim participated in a forensic interview, where she disclosed several incidents involving Joseph of that occurred” when she was nine. The girl’s father confronted the former television star Tuesday, after which Joseph confessed his actions to detectives in Tontitown, the sheriff’s office said.
The arrest comes five years after Joseph’s older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted in federal court of receiving and possessing child sex abuse materials, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence.
The family’s hit TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting, which attracted millions of viewers, documented the Arkansas family’s close-knit Christian lifestyle. It was canceled in 2015, after a police report showed that Josh had been investigated for molesting underage girls, including his sisters. After the allegations surfaced, Josh’s parents said he had privately apologized for his behavior.