Posted on 05/21/2015 5:27:00 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Josh Duggar, one of the members of the family that stars in TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" ... was the subject of a police investigation for allegedly sexually molesting 5 girls, some of whom are his sisters.
The story was broken by In Touch Weekly, but TMZ has confirmed with law enforcement that Josh Duggar -- who was around 14 at the time -- was the alleged molester against 5 girls starting in 2002.
According to the police report, Josh fondled the genitals and breasts of the girls, some of whom were sleeping, but sometimes they were interacting with him ... in one case reading a book.
There was another reported incident 9 months later.
According to the police report, the police were not immediately contacted. Instead, Jim Bob, the dad, met with church elders and agreed Josh should be put in a treatment program. The police report says Josh's mom, Michelle, said it wasn't really a treatment center ... they simply sent Josh to a guy who was remodeling a building to do manual labor.
In 2006, the family was scheduled to appear on "Oprah," and before the show someone sent an email to Harpo warning that Josh had molested girls. Harpo forwarded the email to a hotline, which triggered a police investigation.
Cops wanted to question Josh, but Jim Bob lawyered him up and Josh declined the invitation.
Josh, who is now 27, apparently cannot be charged because the statute of limitations has run.
As for the Duggars, one of the family members told investigators, "this entire incident had brought the family closer to God" ... this according to the police report.
(Excerpt) Read more at tmz.com ...
The police records exist and were released via the Freedom of Information Act.
It is a real story and you are completely in error. Embarrassingly so.
I’m sure you’ve observed the level of contortions people on this site will go through to avoid admitting they are wrong, to the point of applauding people like Byron Smith and Jerome Ersland. Every bankrupt technique - from invented semantics, well poisoning, pretend etymology, etc. is used.
Well, now that you asked, since the family has admitted it, I do in fact believe it.
I might have believed it was a fake and a smear story given that they posit themselves as being of a strong Christian faith and values – and yes I recognize that Christians are targets, but this family BTW are pimping out their family and their lives in a TV reality show for money and fame and Josh Duggar and his parents have basically admitted that it actually happened:
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.”
Josh Duggar's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who are named in the police report, also spoke out Thursday.
"Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong," they said on Facebook.
"That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before. Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God."
What disturbs me about his “confession” is that he seemed to be more concerned about it “ruining his life” if his behavior continued and not so much of a concern about his sisters and at least one other non-family female victim and how what he did may have also ruined their lives.
That and the supposed “counseling” he received was not sending him away to a Christian counseling center for a time as the family first claimed, but sending him to live with another relative or family friend and having him do some hard manual labor.
Yea, making him “chop some wood” in punishment for “having wood” toward his younger sisters, will solve everything. /s
If he was innocent of the accusations, I would have expected him and his parents and his sisters to come forward and say that the accusations were completely false, not true and fight the accusation. But he didn’t do that. He and his parents have admitted to it and he has resigned his position from the Family Research Council. Perhaps the Family Research Council should do a little more research on who they hire next time.
Here’s the other problem. Its going to be hard (impossible?) now for the FRC to in any way argue that homosexuals are a danger to children, when they now have a history of hiring staff members who are a danger to children.
This is a Cluster Foxtrot all around.
We attend a fundamental baptist church and while Jim Bob and Michelle’s handling of the situation was wrong, I’m not sure money was the motivation. Fundamental baptists usually believe that all, and I mean ALL, psychology is rooted in unbiblical teaching so is not a way to solve a sin in one’s heart. Thus, sin issues are dealt with in house, not with outside help.
We had our daughter go to counseling as her anxiety was leading to OCD behaviors and we couldn’t help her. We’ve never told our pastor or his wife. Didn’t need the reminder that prayer and discipline is enough.
The Duggars probably thought that since sin is a heart issue it could be dealt with through prayer and God’s word alone. God’s word is sufficient, but denying outside help, especially after seeing a pattern of behavior, is terribly misguided. It’s hard to be objective about your own kids and they were unable to step back and see it for what it was.
I saw the Duggars at a local church several years ago. The children were all very impressive - seemed so sweet and were musically talented. I have watched the show a few times but not on a regular basis. A few weeks ago I was watching with my 28 year old daughter and she said “surely one of them smokes crack”, as in “they all can’t be so perfect”. Obviously, smoking crack would have been preferable.
Overall they seem like an amazingly loving family. I am very upset over this for all involved but especially the ammo it gives the left.
C'mon"
Folks make the mistake of thinking the Duggars are mainstream Christians, but that's not the case. They're devotees of Bill Gothard's cult-like doctrine, which tells the women how long to wear their hair, what to wear, etc.
Gothard, who teaches his followers "purity"---avoidance of hand-holding, etc.---was found to be a serial sex abuser of young girls.
Oh, I was told last night that it completely normal---just a boy being a boy.
I've watched occasionally, and I'll agree with you on that. He always struck me as a controlling gasbag-in-training.
I remember an episode where his meek little wife was afraid to ride a rollercoaster, and he told her she was going to do it anyway, and made her go through with it.
Yes, there is some unfortunate reinforcing of regional stereotypes going on in these threads.
My guess in a situation like that CPS involvement was trying to be avoided. That can be a nightmare all in it's own more so for the innocents. The victims would see court many times. If you've never been involved in the juvenile issues legal system consider yourself very blessed. It is not a place of truth & justice but rather agendas.
Knowing this took place professional help for the victims should have been sought ASAP. Shop wisely though for that help. CPS involvement which the Cop should have reported it too would have been unavoidable. As well and LCSW/Therapist or mental or healthcare professional with knowledge abuse has taken place is by law required to report it. Which "might" have been the reluctance.
Developmental judgement in a 14 year old is not the same as a 17 year old either. Yes they know right from wrong but a lot of pressure and confusion is there and that's why parents have to be vigilant. It's a parents job to the best of their ability to see to it they don't.
None of us know the full extent of what all happened. Their TV deal was a very bad idea. That brought their family under a microscope by media and others. The welfare and well being of kids must come first and yes juvie records should remain sealed so as the victims identity not be revealed if possible even to family name.
No matter what ones opinion is on this most families in this nation sad to say are in some way affected by molestation/abuse. Not meaning every kid but rather a family member such as sibling or cousin or a parent it happened to as a child. Many victims carry the pain in silence for decades. Most cases never get reported for many reason including fear.. Yeah it could be another kids as the perp but more likely usually a trusted adult they know..
All this story has done is scored a political hit and forced the innocents involved to live through it yet again. All for entertainment value and news ratings.
It will take a trained LCSW years to help the victims. The sooner the help the better the outcome.
> Moreover, you would think that after something as shameful as what Josh did he would want to keep a low profile. I would think the entire family would want to. Instead they went on television and exposed their lives for everyone to see. And so did Josh. He accepted a job, keeping his past from them, as a representative of a Christian family activist group. Does that sound like the actions of someone who is truly sorry and ashamed for what he did?
This is what really disturbs me as well. The show was launched a few scant years after Josh assaulted his sisters and the parents failed to get Josh or his victims help or counselling from professionals (Josh’s “counselling” was being shipped to a family friend in the construction business). No word on what, if anything, they did for the poor girls.
This family is rotten from the root. Jim Bob and Michelle made the decision to glorify themselves on TV after failing to handle a serious crime in their family. I’m very worried about Josh’s victims, and Josh’s CHILDREN INCLUDING LITTLE GIRLS!
What I’m working with is what I do know. Josh Duggar molested his younger sisters. Joy was 4 when it started. Her parents did not protect her.
That’s what we know.
Is there no forgiveness and redemption for a 14 year old boy who touched his sister? It seems that everyone, including the Lord Himself, has moved on successfully except the sodomites and a few bloggers with an axe to grind.
Honestly, what would you have done with Josh? Send him away to a military school?
He was 14 for the first event they caught him at. They did not protect their daughters. The molestations continued. They sent him to remodel houses when he was 16 because he kept molesting his younger sisters.
You say, “he touched his sisters,” (at age 14) as if this was some innocent horseplay. But forcibly fondling your 4 year old sisters vagina is not “touching.” And he did this to four out of the five sisters who were born then. For at least two years that we know of.
It’s not my place to redeem or forgive him. Neither is it your place to absolve him and make light of what he has done.
No - but he could have lived with grandparents, aunts and uncles without kids, or his dad could have moved out with him.
Molested girls shouldn’t have to live with their molesters. This is also how the law works. If it were a school situation, they would be separated as well.
Thank you. Exactly. I can’t imagine the horror of those little girls having to still live with their sicko brother for years. It’s very likely these girls must have thought their violation meant nothing to their parents, or that the “sake of appearances” and a profitable TV show meant a lot more than their sanity and well-being.
Shame shame shame SHAME on Jim Bob and Michelle!
I agree. Josh should live with an older relative and should be banned from all family gatherings. Then when he turns 18, he should be on his own. Join the Marine Corps if they’ll take him.
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