Josh Duggar Scandal: Police Report Reveals '19 Kids And Counting' Star's 5-Year-Old Sister Told Parents About Abuse
Even more disturbing details have emerged surrounding the Josh Duggar molestation scandal. New reports reveal the nature of the “19 Kids and Counting” reality star’s crimes as well as just how many times his alleged behavior occurred.
According to a police report, issued by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas and obtained by In Touch, Josh, now 27, had inappropriately touched five underraged girls on several occasions between 2002 and 2003. The report reveals that Josh “had just turned 14” when he first went to his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, about his behavior. The eldest Duggar child reportedly admitted that he “had been touching [redacted, his sisters] on the breasts and vaginal areas” as they slept. He claimed this “occurred four to five times.” Josh also said he once “fondled” the breasts of a close family friend who had been sleeping on the family’s couch.
Josh’s behavior was not limited to sleeping victims. According to the police report, he groped one of his sisters as she sat in his lap reading in March 2013. At the time, Josh's sister was reportedly 5 years old. The young girl, whose name had been redacted from the document, went to Jim Bob, who is referred to by his legal name, James, in the report, and Michelle following the incident.
"James said that [redacted] was reading to his 5 year old sister and as she was sitting on his lap, he had touched her breasts and vaginal areas. James said that [redacted] then ran out of the room and called him and told him what he had done," reads the police report.
Rather than report the crime, the "19 Kids and Counting" stars sent Josh to a Christian program where he was forced to do manual labor. It wasn’t until nearly 16 months after the initial confession that the now-famous reality TV parents got Josh and his victims into counseling. It remains unclear if the counseling was by choice or court ordered. Legal sources claim Jim Bob and Michelle could face jail time for their failure to take action after learning about the abuse.
As we previously reported, Josh has issued an apology for his behavior. In a statement the soon-to-be father of four told the public he had “acted inexcusably.” He also resigned from his position at the Family Research Council following his admission of guilt. TLC has since pulled “19 Kids” from their programming lineup, but has yet to cancel the series entirely. Although the show has not yet been axed, advertisers continue to pull their campaigns from being aired during possible future episodes.
Jim Bob and Michelle plan to sit down with Fox New’s Megyn Kelly to discuss what they continue to describe as a “dark and difficult time" on "The Kelly File" on Wednesday. This will be their first interview since news of Josh’s troubled past broke on May 19.
That interview airs tonight at 9 p.m. EDT on Fox.
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