Jim Bob Duggar Warns Son Joseph He Will Face ‘Major Consequences’ After Child Molestation Arrest

Jim Bob Duggar appears to be hoping for the best but preparing for the worst when it comes to his son Joseph Duggar’s legal troubles.

“Joseph, I’m so sorry for what you are going through. Mom & I love you very much!” Jim Bob, 60, wrote in an email to his son, according to jail records obtained by Us Weekly. “Looks like you have a long road ahead of you, but God will get you through. You have made some terrible decisions, but God has already forgiven you if you have asked him.”

In the email dated March 25, the patriarch of the Duggar family warned Joseph, 31, that his legal battle is far from over.

“You are just going to have to accept the situation at this point and it’s also fine to pray that God would have mercy on you, but you’re probably gonna face a [sic] major consequences for several years to come,” Jim Bob wrote in his email. “I pray that God will bring other Christians into your life to encourage you and that you can also point people to Christ even through the time you’re in jail and prison. God will be with you! He will get you and your family through!”

Us confirmed on March 18 that Joseph was arrested in Arkansas amid accusations of abuse from a 14-year-old girl who was 9 years old at the time.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older.

Joseph was released from a Florida jail on Tuesday, March 31, after posting $600,000 bail. 

In his email, Jim Bob also offered an update on how Joseph’s wife, Kendra Duggar, is doing after she was arrested for an unrelated matter. She and Joseph — who share four children — are facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and false imprisonment.

A spokesperson for the Duggar family previously told Us in a statement, “[Kendra’s] is a misdemeanor charge totally unrelated to the Florida case.”

“Kendra is doing well overall. She is trusting in the Lord,” Jim Bob claimed in his email. “She loves you very much! Your kids are going to be okay. Our whole family has pulled together to help. Several of the sisters and sister-in-law‘s have taken Kendra out and spent a lot of time with her. It is ridiculous that they charged Kendra and arrested her. We were praying that we can get her charges dropped. You would be so proud of your brothers and grateful to them for how they’ve all stepped up and are helping with all the details of your business and helping Kendra.”

Before ending his email, Jim Bob tried to offer some additional encouragement to his son while he was in solitary confinement.

“David in the Bible royally messed up, but he repented and became a man after God’s own heart,” he wrote. “You also like Joseph who was in prison, can make lemonade out of lemons. I love you and we’ll keep praying for you, don’t give up. God is not finished with your life. Love you, Dad.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.