The legal troubles surrounding former 19 Kids and Counting star Joseph Duggar deepened when his wife, Kendra Duggar, was also arrested just two days after Joseph was taken into custody on molestation charges.
Both Kendra and Joseph were charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree on March 20.
Here’s what we know about Kendra’s arrest and the charges the couple now face together:
Joseph Duggar’s Wife Kendra Duggar Arrested, Couple Facing New Charges
Joseph Duggar’s Arrest
Us Weekly can confirm Joseph Duggar was arrested by the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas at approximately 3 p.m. on March 18. He allegedly sexually abused a 9-year-old girl during a family trip to Florida in 2020. Bay County authorities, where the alleged incident took place, obtained a warrant for his arrest.
He was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, per the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Kendra Duggar’s Arrest and New Charges for Both
Two days later, on March 20, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Us that Kendra Duggar was arrested and booked. She was later released after paying her bond, which was set at $1,470.
A press release from the Tontitown Police Department stated that both Joseph and Kendra now face four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree. The couple share four children.
Us obtained a copy of Kendra’s mugshot and arrest video.
A Comprehensive Guide to the Duggar Family: Kids, Grandkids and More
How the Two Arrests Are Connected — And How They’re Not
While the timing of the arrests raised questions, a source with knowledge of the case provided important clarification.
“Kendra’s arrest has nothing to do with Joseph’s — although one precipitated another,” the source exclusively told Us on March 21. “After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there.”
Kendra’s charges appear to stem from a separate investigation triggered by the standard process following Joseph’s arrest, not from involvement in his alleged crimes.
Amy Duggar Reverses Her Initial Statement
Amy Duggar, Joseph’s cousin, was one of the first members of the extended Duggar family to speak out after Joseph’s March 18 arrest. However, she changed her statement of support for Kendra following Kendra’s own arrest.
“I think that was a plot twist that no one saw coming,” Amy said of Kendra’s arrest during a March 21, interview with TMZ. “When I gave that [first] statement … that was just the information I was given at the time.”
Amy also disclosed the extent of her estrangement from the couple.
“Just a few facts: I haven’t seen or heard from Jo in about 5 years,” Amy wrote via her Instagram Story on March 23.
Kendra’s Release Conditions Revealed
Us obtained Kendra’s conditional release form from the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, issued on March 20. Before Kendra was released from jail, she was required by a judge to sign an agreement that she would “have no contact” with any of her “unnamed victims.”
The district attorney noted that Kendra is not to reach out to them “by telephone (including text), in person, by computer or through other people.” If Kendra violates the terms of the signed agreement, she could face “a separate offense resulting in [her] arrest and/or bond revocation” and could even be “subject to jail pending trial.”
Kendra is required to attend a hearing at Elm Springs and Tontitown District Court on April 29.
Kendra and Joseph Have Been in Contact
Following her release from jail on March 20, Kendra had a phone call with her husband, Joseph, while he was in jail in Arkansas.
During a call from the detention obtained by People on March 27, Joseph told Kendra, “I’ve been spending a lot of time reading, uh, reading the Bible, they got me a Bible in here.”
He revealed, “I’m in solitary [confinement],” claiming he spent 23 hours a day in a “pretty small area.” Joseph told his spouse, “I’ve been able to read a lot actually, and resting some, but I’m not sleeping great through the night.”
What Kendra Duggar Has Said About Her Marriage to Joseph Duggar Before Arrest
How Long Have Joseph and Kendra Been Married?
Joseph and Kendra started courting in March 2017 and were engaged by May of that year. “I’m so happy and so shocked,” Kendra told People at the time.
“There’s so many words I want to say, but just shocked.” Joseph told the publication he was “definitely nervous” before proposing.
Joseph’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, later celebrated the wedding, which took place in September 2017. “Congratulations to the Newlyweds!” they said at the time. “It’s an amazing and exciting day for our family!”
Joseph and Kendra were seemingly last seen publicly in footage from the Duggar family’s annual Christmas costume party, included in Joseph’s sister Jessa Duggar‘s “Holiday Festivities” vlog published on February 9. In the video, Joseph wears a black costume. “She’s a Christmas tree, and I’m the lights going on her Christmas tree,” Joseph explains in a brief clip.
What Remains Unknown
No official statements from Joseph, Kendra, their attorneys, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar or TLC have been released. The specific details underlying the four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment have not been fully disclosed. The investigation, which involves authorities in both Arkansas and Florida, remains ongoing.
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