Joseph Duggar’s father Jim Bob has slammed his son’s ‘terrible decisions’ in a jail letter after his arrest last month on child molestation charges – with more of his siblings also breaking silence.
The 31-year-old TV personality was taken into custody on March 18 after he was accused of sexual activity with a nine-year-old girl during a Florida vacation in 2020.
Duggar recently returned to Arkansas after he was released on a $600,000 bond but is banned from having unsupervised contact with minors under the age of 18 – which includes his four children.
Jim Bob had sent a letter to his son via email while he was being held at an Arkansas detention facility before being extradited to the state of Florida.
‘You have made some terrible decisions, but God has already forgiven you if you have asked him,’ the 60-year-old reality star wrote in the letter, which was obtained by People.
He told Duggar that he needs to ‘accept the situation’ and will most likely deal with ‘major consequences for several years to come.’
Joseph Duggar’s father Jim Bob, 60, has slammed his son’s ‘terrible decisions’ in a jail letter after his arrest last month on child molestation charges – with more of his siblings also breaking silence; Jim Bob and wife Michelle seen above in 2010
The 31-year-old TV personality was taken into custody on March 18 after he was accused of sexual activity with a nine-year-old girl during a Florida vacation in 2020; Duggar’s March 31 mugshot seen above
Jim Bob told his son that both he and his mother Michelle ‘love’ him – but emphasized to Duggar that he has ‘a long road ahead…’
If he is convicted, his father also wrote, ‘[Y]ou can also point people to Christ even through the time you’re in jail and prison.’
Jim Bob also shared that, ‘David in the Bible royally messed up, but he repented and became a man after God’s own heart.’
In conclusion, he told Duggar that ‘God is not finished with your life’ before adding that ‘we’ll keep praying for you.’
Just days earlier, Jim Bob and Michelle broke silence on their son’s arrest on child molestation charges.
A spokesperson for the pair told Us Weekly in a statement: ‘Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time.’
It was added that Jim Bob and Michelle ‘are praying for the victim’ and ‘ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.’
Some of Duggar’s siblings have also broken their silence over the charges such as his brother Josh – who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography.
He told Duggar that he needs to ‘accept the situation’ and will most likely deal with ‘major consequences for several years to come’; Jim Bob and wife Michelle seen in NYC in 2014
A spokesperson for Jim Bob and Michelle told Us Weekly in a statement: ‘Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time’; Duggar and wife Kendra seen above
Some of Duggar’s siblings have also broken their silence over the charges such as his brother Josh – who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography; Josh seen in 2021
Most recently, his sisters Jana and Jessa have also issued statements of their own.
Jana took to her Instagram stories on Thursday to call out Duggar’s actions as an ‘unacceptable wrong.’
‘We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the situation involving my brother, Joseph,’ she penned.
‘This news came as a shock to us, as we had no prior knowledge before it became public.’
Jana continued, ‘Our hearts are with the child who has been harmed – this is a grievous and unacceptable wrong. We continue to pray for the victim and for justice to be carried out.’
Jessa also shared a message on her Instagram stories which read: ‘We learned, along with the rest of the world, of the heartbreaking news involving my brother, Joseph, and we are deeply grieved.
‘Our hearts ache for this innocent young girl and the harm she has suffered. This is a profound wrong, and we know it grieves the heart of God, who cares deeply for children and the vulnerable.’
Jessa concluded with, ‘We are lifting her up in prayer, asking for comfort, healing, and justice.’
Most recently, his sisters Jana and Jessa have also issued statements of their own after Duggar’s arrest
Jana took to her Instagram stories on Thursday to call out Duggar’s actions as an ‘unacceptable wrong’
Two days after Duggar’s arrest, his wife Kendra was taken into custody on March 20 – but released later the same day after posting a $1,470 bond.
She was charged with four counts of child endangerment and four charges of false imprisonment.
In multiple jail phone calls, Kendra recently shared to Duggar that that she did not have their four children.
During a call which took place on March 22, she told her husband, ‘From what I hear they are doing good,’ per People.
‘It’s just like, when you then take my babies from me… they were who I was just going to pour my life into,’ Kendra said.
She later added that she is ‘fighting for the kids and they’re my number one priority right now.’
Duggar said that he is ‘100% behind’ her and added that she ‘should be fighting for them the most.’
He was arrested in connection with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12-years-old, authorities with Florida’s Bay County Sheriff’s Office said in March.
Two days after Duggar’s arrest, his wife Kendra was taken into custody on March 20 -but released later the same day after posting a $1,470 bond
In multiple jail phone calls, Kendra recently shared to Duggar that that she did not have their four children; Kendra’s March 20 mugshot seen above
The incident involving Duggar occurred in 2020 in Panama City Beach, Florida during a vacation, according to authorities.
‘As the vacation continued, he also asked [the victim] to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket,’ officials said. ‘During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.
‘Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs. The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.’
He was also charged with lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, officials said.
The incident involving Duggar occurred in 2020 in Panama City Beach, Florida during a vacation, according to authorities; Duggar’s March 18 mugshot seen above
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Duggar was released from prison on a $600,000 bond after he pled not guilty to molestation charges
Duggar and Kendra wed in 2017 and are parents to four young children – ages seven, six, five and three.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Duggar was released from prison on a $600,000 bond after he pled not guilty to molestation charges.
He appeared before a judge on Tuesday and requested a jury trial. Duggar had been set to return to court on April 20 – but the date has reportedly been changed to May 18, per People.
Duggar is barred from unsupervised contact with any person under 18 – which includes his own children.
