PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Bay County Sheriff’s Office said Joseph Garrett Duggar, 31, who appeared on the TV show “19 Kids and Counting,” was arrested Wednesday for crimes against a minor that allegedly occurred in Panama City Beach.
BCSO said Duggar has been charged with lewd and lascivious behavior, including molestation of a victim younger than 12, and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 or older.
We’re told Bay County investigators were contacted Wednesday by a Tontitown police detective about a report of past sexual abuse. The 14-year-old victim, during a forensic interview, disclosed what happened with Duggar during a family vacation in Panama City Beach when she was 9, BCSO says.
According to the investigation, the events happened when the family was staying at a home on Danny Drive.
BCSO said the victim reported Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap. He also asked her to sit beside him on a couch and covered them with a blanket, authorities say. Allegedly, Duggar then manipulated her underwear, grazed her genitals, and continued to rub his hands on her thighs, BCSO said.
BCSO said the victim reported Duggar eventually apologized, and the acts stopped after the apology.
BCSO said investigators discovered the victim’s father confronted Duggar about what happened on March 17, 2026. Duggar admitted his actions to the victim’s father and to Tontitown detectives, BCSO said.
Duggar was arrested out of state and faces charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, including molestation of a victim younger than 12 and lewd and lascivious conduct by someone 18 or older.
Duggar is currently awaiting extradition to Bay County.
To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email [email protected]. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app, and check out what’s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app.
Copyright 2026 WJHG. All rights reserved.
