Amy Duggar King 'not surprised' by cousin Joseph's arrest on child molestation charges The '19 Kids and Counting' star was arrested on Wednesday. By Sharareh Drury March 20, 2026 2:36 p.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/amyduggarkingjosephduggar03202639df0b7c6610429aa6ff06fa551f5c75.jpg) Amy Duggar King; Joseph Duggar. Credit: Amy King/Instagram; Little Duggar Family/Instagram Amy Duggar King is weighing in on the recent arrest of her cousin Joseph Duggar.

Amy Duggar King 'not surprised' by cousin Joseph's arrest on child molestation charges

The '19 Kids and Counting' star was arrested on Wednesday.

By Sharareh Drury

March 20, 2026 2:36 p.m. ET

Amy Duggar King; Joseph Duggar. Credit:

Amy King/Instagram; Little Duggar Family/Instagram

Amy Duggar King is weighing in on the recent arrest of her cousin Joseph Duggar.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Duggar King said, "In light of the recent allegations involving my cousin, Joseph Duggar, I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry."

"My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust," the former *19 Kids and Counting* star continued. "The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else."

Duggar King said she was "utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph's arrest." Yet she added she is "not surprised that another alleged predator has emerged from this toxic system."

"For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family," Duggar King continued. "Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children. When an image is protected over truth, and silence is chosen over accountability, it creates an environment where abuse can thrive."

Joseph Duggar's mug shot.

Washington County Sheriff's Department

Duggar King shared that she has tried to "break cycles" among her family, both immediate and extended. "My boundaries are in place for a reason, and I have used my voice to expose the darkness and advocate for the protection of children, a journey I wrote about in *Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth* as a way to help others recognize harmful patterns, speak the truth and find their voice in toxic systems," she said.**

The author added that she is "praying for the victim and her family as they walk through what is sure to be an incredibly difficult road ahead."****"Recognizing that we do not yet know the full picture, I am also praying for Joseph's wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children," Duggar King said. "I'm praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest."****** has reached out to Duggar King for further comment.

'19 Kids and Counting' star Joseph Duggar's mug shot released

Jill Duggar Dillard's family speaks out after Joseph Duggar is arrested on child molestation charges

Joseph Duggar is accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl while on vacation in Panama City, Fla., in 2020. The 31-year-old was arrested and charged on Wednesday 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. The Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida announced that the former reality star had been booked into the Washington County, Ark., jail and was awaiting extradition to Bay County.

Following the news of his arrest, his sister Jill Duggar Dillard and her family also addressed the incident on the Dillard Family blog, stating they were "shocked" and "heartbroken" to learn of the arrest.

"We strongly condemn abuse. We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved," the post continued. "Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. 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."

The post also offered support to Joseph's wife Kendra and the couple's four children.**

Joseph's arrest marks the second time a member of the Duggar family, which rose to fame via the TLC reality series *19 Kids and Counting*, has faced child sex abuse allegations. In 2021, Duggar's older brother Josh was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. He was subsequently sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. Josh had previously been investigated in connection with claims that he had molested five underage girls, including some of his sisters.

Josh is currently serving his time at FCI Seagoville federal prison in Texas, with an expected release date in 2032.*****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.***

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Source: Celebrity

Published: March 21, 2026 at 09:00AM on Source: RON MAG

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