19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar arrested on accusations of sexual activity with a nine-year-old

Joseph Duggar, a married father-of-four, was arrested Wednesday in connection with allegations he touched a nine-year-old girl on her underwear and genitals.

Joseph, 31, the younger brother of convicted sex offender Josh Duggar, was arrested in connection with lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a statement from the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Lynn Haven, Florida read.

On Wednesday, an investigator with the Tontitown Police Department in Tontitown, Arkansas reached out to the BCSO 'regarding a report of past sexual abuse.'

An alleged victim identified as a 14-year-old girl told law enforcement about a series of inappropriate incidents Joseph Duggar was involved in around five years back, police said.

Authorities said the alleged incidents occurred during a 2020 family vacation when the alleged victim was nine years old and on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach, Florida. 

Daily Mail has reached out to the BCSO for further comment on the story. A Duggar family spokesperson told the Daily Mail the family had not issued a statement as of Wednesday evening. 

The alleged victim told investigators that the family had been staying at a home located on Danny Drive at the time of the illegal incidents. 

Joseph Duggar 'repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap,' BCSO officials said, adding that his behavior appeared to escalate as the vacation continued.

In another incident, Joseph 'asked [the victim] to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket,' rubbing 'his hands on her thighs.

'During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.'

Duggar subsequently told the alleged victim he was sorry and the incidents ceased, according to officials with the BCSO.

The father of the alleged victim confronted Joseph Duggar about what happened on Tuesday, at which time he admitted to his actions to the father and a detective in Tontitown, the BCSO said.

Joseph Duggar was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with Lewd and Lascivious Behavior – Molestation of a Victim Less Than 12-years-old; and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior Conducted By A Person 18 Years Or Older.

Authorities with the BCSO said that Joseph Duggar is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County.

Sources told People on Wednesday that Joseph had been booked into the jail in Washington County, Arkansas at around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Joseph said he was shocked by his brother Josh's criminal actions in a December 2015 appearance on Jill & Jessa: Counting On.

A then-20-year-old Joseph said, 'I don't think there's any way any of us would have known that my brother was living such a secret life. It broke my heart.'

Joseph has been married to wife Kendra since September of 2017 and they are parents to four children, People reported.  

For those who have been impacted by sexual abuse, text 'STRENGTH' to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.