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Jill Duggar and her family have shared their stunned reaction to the news that her brother Joseph Duggar has been arrested on accusations of child molestation.
Joseph, a married father of four, was arrested Wednesday in connection with allegations that he touched a nine-year-old girl on her underwear and genitals.
The 31-year-old, whose elder brother is convicted sex offender Josh Duggar, was arrested in connection with lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, per a statement from the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Lynn Haven, Florida.
'We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,' read a post uploaded this Thursday on Jill's family blog, which she shares with her husband Derick Dillard, the father of her three sons.
'We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.'
The announcement added: 'We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family.'
Jill Duggar and her family have shared their stunned reaction to the news that her brother Joseph Duggar has been arrested on accusations of child molestation
Joseph was arrested Wednesday in connection with allegations that he touched a nine-year-old girl on her underwear and genitals; he's pictured in his mugshot after the arrest
Jill reacted on a post uploaded Thursday to her family blog, which she shares with her husband Derick Dillard (right), the father of her three sons
The family continued: '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.'
Per the Dillards: 'We love our sister-in-law, Kendra, and our four nieces and nephews and pray that they feel loved and supported during this time as we cannot imagine the indescribable pain they feel as they process and grieve everything.'
They closed with two passages from the Bible, one from Isaiah: 'Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression;…' and one Psalm: 'The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.'
The statement came the day before Joseph attended a minute-long hearing in Arkansas where he waived his right to a hearing on his potential extradition to Florida, according to People.
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 in 2020, when the alleged victim was nine years old and on vacation with her family in Panama City Beach, Florida.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the BCSO for further comment. A Duggar family spokesman told the Daily Mail the family had not issued a statement as of Wednesday evening.
Joseph, 31, was arrested in connection with lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Lynn Haven, Florida, announced
Duggar's mugshot was released on Wednesday evening by the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The former reality star sported a thick beard, and he gazed forward with a stony expression, which notably contrasted the grinning 2021 mugshot of his brother Josh, which had also been snapped in Washington County.
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 is the younger brother of convicted sex offender Josh Duggar, pictured in 2021
The father of the alleged victim confronted Duggar about what allegedly happened on Tuesday, at which time he admitted to his actions to the father and a detective in Tontitown, the Bay County Sheriff's Office said; Joseph is pictured with his wife of nine years, Kendra
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 at around 4pm on 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 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.
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