DODGED A BULLET Joe and Kendra Duggar to avoid prison time in child endangerment case if they follow judge’s two rules
JOE and Kendra Duggar have struck a deal that could see their child endangerment charges dropped, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The couple, who rose to fame on TLC’s reality series 19 Kids and Counting and later appeared on Counting On, are the parents of four children.
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Kendra Duggar was arrested alongside her husband and banned from contacting her kidsCredit: Washington County Sheriff’s Offi
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Joe Duggar is also facing separate charges in Florida for allegedly sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girlCredit: Unknown
Joe, 31, and Kendra, 27, were each charged in Arkansas with four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment.
The charges stem from allegations involving their children and exterior locks on their bedroom doors, with authorities claiming the kids were unlawfully confined and placed in danger.
The case came to light after police and Arkansas Department of Human Services investigators went to the couple’s home in March.
It came shortly after Joe was arrested in Florida, where he is accused of molesting a nine-year-old girl during a 2020 vacation.
He has pleaded not guilty to those allegations.
That case is separate from the Arkansas charges.
The couple previously pleaded not guilty but withdrew those pleas on August 10, according to the latest court filing.
Their cases have now been placed under advisement for 12 months.
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Joe Duggar was released on bail after his dad Jim Bob helped him outCredit: Instagram/littleduggarfamily
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Joe and Kendra have four children together and have been married since 2017Credit: Instagram/littleduggarfamily
Under the deal, they must stay out of trouble, follow court orders and directions from Arkansas DHS, and pay $1,850 in fines and costs.
If they complete all the requirements, the state has agreed to dismiss all of the charges after a year.
Meanwhile, Joe is facing two charges of lewd or lascivious molestation involving a child under the age of 12 in Florida over the alleged 2020 incident in Panama City Beach.
He was arrested in March and later released on a $600,000 bond.
As part of his release conditions, Joe is barred from having unsupervised contact with minors, including his own four children.
He must also stay at least 500 feet away from the home of the alleged victim.
His defense team has sought to have the restrictions on contact with his children lifted, but a judge rejected the request.
The case is now moving toward depositions, with four witnesses, including Kendra’s parents Christina and Paul Gene Caldwell, scheduled to be questioned in September, according to court records obtained by The U.S. Sun.
The Caldwells rose to prominence through their association with the Duggar family after Kendra married Joe in 2017 following a courtship featured on Counting On.
The victim’s father allegedly confronted Joe, who admitted he inappropriately touched the girl, according to reports.
The alleged admission was reportedly repeated on a recorded phone line to Arkansas detectives.
Joe was then arrested in March 2026 in Arkansas, where he lives, before being extradited to Florida.
During an interview, the accuser told police Joe repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap, and next to him on a sofa, covering them with a blanket during the abuse.
“During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs,” Bay County Sheriff’s Office alleged.
“The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.”
Joe’s father, Jim Bob Duggar, stepped in to help post the massive bail amount and secure his release.
If he is convicted in the child molestation case, Joe could face life behind bars.