Jason Duggar Blasts Brother Joseph as Vile After Child Molestation Arrest

Another Duggar scandal, and this one is ugly. Jason Duggar has publicly condemned his brother Joseph after Joseph was arrested on allegations he molested a child in 2020. Here is what Jason and his wife said, what Joseph and Kendra are actually charged with, and where the case stands right now.

Jason and Maddie speak out

Jason, 25, and his wife, Maddie Grace (they got married in October 2024), posted a joint statement on Instagram on Thursday, March 26. They did not mince words about Joseph, but they also made it clear the focus should be on the alleged victim, who was 9 at the time of the reported assaults.

They described being shocked, angry, and heartbroken, said a child’s life has been turned upside down by actions that should never happen, and asked people to center the victim’s healing rather than the family fallout. They also said they want both their faith and the court system to do what needs to be done, and they called out anyone who abuses authority to target the vulnerable as vile. They asked for prayers for the victim and, yes, for Joseph’s family too — especially his four children with wife Kendra, who are suddenly staring at the possibility of losing a father who was supposed to be a spiritual leader.

"We stand with innocent children. Always."

What Joseph is accused of — and the current charges

• Mar 18, 2026: Joseph Duggar, 31, is arrested in Arkansas in connection with allegations he molested a girl during a Florida vacation in 2020. The alleged victim, now 14, told police Joseph apologized at one point and the incidents stopped after that apology.
• Charges on Joseph: multiple counts, including two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
• Mar 20, 2026: Joseph’s wife, Kendra Duggar, 27, is arrested and released the same day on a $1,470 bond.
• Additional counts on both Joseph and Kendra: endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. An attorney who reviewed the case says those counts are tied to a home inspection — a very specific procedural wrinkle — and are considered secondary to the Florida allegations.
• As of now: Joseph remains in jail in Arkansas, waiting to be transferred to Florida to face trial there.

What could happen next

According to Rachael Bennett, a certified family law specialist and senior attorney at Sullivan Law & Associates who looked into the case, Florida is where the main trial will happen. If Joseph is convicted on the Florida charges, a life sentence is on the table. If the court does not give life, Florida law requires a 'split sentence': at least 25 years in prison followed by lifetime probation.

The wider Duggar context

Joseph is now the second of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s children to face serious criminal charges in recent years. Their eldest son, Josh Duggar, was sentenced in May 2022 to 12 years in prison for possession of child pornography.

If you need help

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text the Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.