The minor accusing Joseph Duggar of grooming and sexual assault reportedly told investigators that the embattled reality star repeatedly “grazed [her] vagina” with his hand during a family vacation in 2020.
The suspected victim, now 14, reportedly told a detective from the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas that she was on vacation in Florida when “several incidents of sexual abuse” involving Duggar took place, per a copy of the affidavit for Duggar’s arrest warrant obtained by People on Wednesday.
Duggar, now 31, was said to be a guest during the 2020 trip to Panama City Beach, and his alleged victim claimed to investigators that he asked the then-9-year-old to “sit on his lap, numerous times” during the trip, according to the affidavit.
She would also “sit on the defendant’s lap” and Duggar would “cradle [her] with his arms,” the affidavit read.
The affidavit also included claims that Duggar and the minor’s alleged relationship began to change the longer the pair were on vacation together.
Duggar’s suspected victim told authorities that the former “19 Kids and Counting” star began asking her to “sit on the couch beside [him],” at which point he “covered the parties with a blanket,” per the affidavit.
“Once the parties were covered, the defendant would pull the victim’s dress up and touch the victim’s thighs,” Bay County Deputy Sheriff Darrell Norris reportedly wrote in the affidavit.
Duggar’s purported victim also reportedly said that Duggar’s hand “grazed [her] vagina” during the alleged incidents and that Duggar’s hand was “outside of her underwear,” per the affidavit.
These incidents took place “several times,” according to Duggar’s accuser, and she described feeling “uncomfortable” and “confused” during the alleged incidents.
The alleged sexual assault incidents “stopped occurring” after Duggar “approached the victim” during the trip and “apologized for his actions,” the affidavit concluded.
On March 18, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced that the former TLC star had been arrested and accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in Florida.
Duggar was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than the age of 12, as well as lewd and lascivious behavior toward a victim aged 18 or older.
Investigators at Bay County were contacted by a detective from the Tontitown Police Department regarding a report of past sexual abuse, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
“The 14-year-old victim participated in a forensic interview, where she disclosed several incidents involving Duggar that occurred during a family vacation in Panama City Beach when she was 9-years-old,” the statement added.
Duggar was ultimately arrested and booked at the Washington County jail in Arkansas, and Arkansas police told Page Six that he will eventually be extradited to Bay County.
The alleged victim’s father was said to have confronted Duggar on March 17 about the purported incidents, and Duggar reportedly confessed to the allegations.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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