The eldest of TV’s largest family was investigated for sexually abusing some minors.
Trigger warning: This post contains details of child sexual assault.
It has been revealed that Josh Duggar, the eldest child of the Duggar family from US reality TV hit 19 Kids and Counting, was once investigated for molesting minors.
A 2006 police report obtained by In Touch showed that Josh allegedly assaulted five underage female victims, who reported he fondled their breasts and genitals.
The first instance was reportedly known to father Jim Bob in 2002, when Josh was 14-years-old. A minor had said Josh touched her breasts and vagina while she slept. According to In Touch, the victim was sharing a room with Josh at the time.
It is stated in the police report that the victims lived “with their parents, Michelle and Jim Bob.”
Further offences came to light in 2003, upon which Jim Bob — referred to in the police report as James — alerted their family’s church. Nobody reported the incidents to police but rather sent Josh to a religious program that “consisted of hard physical work and counselling.”
However, Michelle Duggar — Josh’ mother — later said it wasn’t really a counselling program, but rather just a “guy they know in Little Rock” who was “kind of” a mentor.
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It is not just the assaults that should attract condemnation but the appalling way this matter was subsequently dealt with and continues to be dealt with. In all the reporting the only concern seems to be that Josh was stopped from going down the wrong path. No mention of what assistance or counselling was given to his victims. It is disgusting to think of all the times Josh has been seen on the show talking about the importance of being pure and not even holding hands until engaged. What an appalling family of hypocrites who clearly place no value on the women in their family but are now at pains to point out what a great man Josh has become. How this show has continued to be aired when these incidents became known back in 2006 is astounding. Let's hope a wave of negative public opinion will see this become "19 Kids and Cancelled!"
For people defending him (not his actions) by saying that he was young, repressed and/or socially immature because of his upbringing, I can categorically state that by 14, no matter how you were brought up, you know the difference between right and wrong. I can also state that having had a similar experience with sexual assault as a child, that shit fucks you up. He doesn't deserve sympathy, he doesn't deserve words of support, he doesn't deserve privacy (except for his wife and children). What he does deserve is to experience the pain, anguish and confusion that his victims have suffered and will continue to suffer for the rest of their lives.
Hear, hear.