Kendra Duggar; Kendra Duggar and her mother and sisters

Kendra Duggar (left); Kendra Duggar’s family (right).Credit : Washington County Sheriffs Department; The Caldwells/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

Joseph Duggar was arrested in Florida on March 18 for alleged lewd acts involving a 9-year-old girl, per an affidavit

He and his wife, Kendra, also face unrelated charges in Arkansas, including endangering the welfare of minors
Kendra’s family broke their silence on the arrests on April 15, asking for “privacy” and commending the victim’s “courageous” act to “share her truth”

Kendra Duggar’s family is speaking out amid her and her husband Joseph Duggar’s legal troubles.

Nearly a month after Kendra was arrested and charged in Arkansas following Joseph’s separate arrest, the Caldwell family shared a statement on Instagram saying they are “troubled and heartbroken over the alleged actions committed by our son-in-law” and “devastated for the young girl” who Joseph allegedly confessed to repeatedly molesting, which led to his March 18 arrest.

On March 18, Joseph, 31, was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, per Florida’s Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Joseph’s confession happened in a phone call with the child’s father — the girl was 9 at the time of the alleged molestations — and a detective with the local police department on March 17. During the call, Joseph “admitted his actions,” saying “he touched the victim over her clothing.” He also “admitted his intentions were not pure,” according to the affidavit.

Kendra’s family called the victim “courageous in every way to share her truth,” and said, “We stand by her, both in support and prayer, and forever will. Our love for this child remains at the forefront of our family’s priorities and minds. We are proud of her for being strong enough to share her story while also retaining her own identity and joy.”

Joseph and Kendra Duggar mugshots

Joseph and Kendra Duggar.Washington County Sheriff’s Department

“We pray all victims of crimes can be as courageous as this young girl is. They should be able to share their story, to trust in the judicial process, and to do so without fear of retaliation. You are not alone,” the statement continued. “At the same time, we also recognize how traumatic this incident has been for our grandchildren as well and continue to pray for their strength. Our love for them, and our daughter Kendra, remains.”

Before asking for “privacy,” the statement added, “The only way to freedom is to shine light in the darkness. And in this time, part of the light in our lives has come through the outpouring of love and prayer from people near and far. Thank you who have given in all the ways, through prayer, finances, time, energy and words of encouragement. We love you all.”

Our new app is here! Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now!

Separate from Joseph’s Florida charges, Kendra and Joseph are both facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree, in relation to the Arkansas charges, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.

A spokesperson for their family told PEOPLE at the time that the charges against Kendra, 27, are “totally unrelated” to the felony charges her husband is facing in Florida. “She’s not suspected or accused of participating in his alleged crime,” the spokesperson said.

Related Stories

What to Know About Joseph Duggar’s Wife Kendra and Children

Joseph and Kendra Duggar

Kendra Duggar Tells Joseph to Cut Off Communication, ‘Board Up the Hatches’ and ‘Not Trust Anyone’ in Jail Calls

Joseph and Kendra Duggar

Kendra was released on bail following her charges. Kendra and Joseph are scheduled to appear in an Arkansas courtroom on April 29.

Joseph has been in the spotlight since childhood, appearing on all four iterations of his family’s TLC reality series franchise beginning when he was 13 on 19 Kids and Counting. His wedding to Kendra was later featured in a 2017 episode of Counting On. They now share four kids.

On Monday, March 30, Joseph’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, addressed his legal troubles. In a statement, a spokesperson for the family said that Bob, 60, and Michelle, 59, are “heartbroken over this entire situation.”

“Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said. “They are praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.”

In 2021, a federal jury convicted Joseph’s older brother Josh Duggar, 38, of receiving and possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Josh was sentenced to over 12 years in prison.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.