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Joseph Duggar has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges involving allegations of child molestation, as a Florida court set his bond at $600,000 during his first appearance.
The 31-year-old appeared remotely before a judge from the Bay County Jail on March 31, just hours after being extradited from Arkansas and booked into custody. He had earlier submitted a written plea denying all charges, waived arraignment and requested a jury trial.
Duggar is accused of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl during a family trip to Panama City Beach in 2020. The charges include lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 and inappropriate conduct by a person over 18. Additional counts filed after his arrest include endangering the welfare of a minor and false imprisonment.
According to court documents, the allegations came to light after the accuser, now 14, spoke to investigators. Authorities say Duggar later apologised to the child, after which the incidents allegedly stopped. He was arrested in Arkansas on March 18 before being transferred to Florida on March 27.
His next court appearance has been scheduled for April 20.
The case has drawn wider attention due to Duggar's family background. He is the second member of the Duggar family to face criminal charges involving minors. His older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted in 2021 on federal charges related to illegal material involving minors and is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence.
Duggar's wife, Kendra, was also briefly arrested on separate charges linked to a home assessment involving their children, though a source indicated her case is not directly related to the allegations against her husband. She was later released on bond.
Several family members have publicly reacted to the situation. Jill Duggar said she and her husband were "shocked and heartbroken" upon learning of the allegations. In a statement, they added, "We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved."
Duggar's parents also issued a response, saying they are focused on supporting their family during this time. "Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation... They are praying for the victim," the statement read.
The case remains ongoing as Duggar awaits further court proceedings.
