Joseph Duggar’s bond was set at $600,000 during his first court appearance Tuesday — nearly two weeks after being arrested and accused of child molestation.
During the arraignment in Bay County, Florida, Duggar’s attorney asked that the “Counting On” star be treated fairly despite his status as a TV personality.
The prosecution asked the judge for a “substantial” bond and that he have “no contact with the victim and any minors.”
The “19 Kids and Counting” alum was detained on March 18 in Arkansas.
The former reality star was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than the age of 12, as well as lewd and lascivious behavior toward a victim age 18 or older.
According to an affidavit, the 31-year-old admitted to his alleged victim’s father the previous day that he molested the then-9-year-old in 2020.
Duggar allegedly touched the child beneath a blanket, repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap — and later apologized for his behavior.
The ex-TLC personality was three years into his and wife Kendra Duggar’s marriage at the time.
The couple are the parents of son Garrett, 7, daughter Addison, 6, daughter Brooklyn, 5, and a fourth baby whose name and age they have yet to reveal.
Kendra, 27, was arrested on March 20.
She and Joseph were both charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment reportedly over rooms with locks on the outside of the doorknob.
Kendra, who was released later that same day, did not visit her partner at the Washington County Correctional Facility ahead of his extradition to Florida.
She did, however, speak to him on the phone multiple times.
During their March 20 conversation, Kendra said she’d hired lawyer Travis Story — and clarified to Joseph that the attorney was “only for” her.
Story also represented Josh Duggar in his 2021 child porn trial, which ultimately led to the 38-year-old’s conviction.
While Joshua issued a statement defending his younger brother earlier this month, many of Joseph’s family members have denounced him.
Most recently, “heartbroken” Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar broke their silence on the “difficult time,” stressing their “focus” on “helping Kendra,” who is in hiding at a “very private location.”
