The Duggars Respond to Reports That Josh Duggar Was Accused of Child Molestation

[masondoggy]

I don’t see it as Havard or anyone else seeking a scalp.

This is the story of a 14 year old child who sexually fondled his sisters, who were younger than he was, and possibly even a 4 year old.

This behavior had to be precipitated by something.

Whatever it was needed to be addressed (and it does not seem to have been). He could have been a victim himself, he could have been mentally ill, he could have had tendencies towards pedophilia.

Something more than just , “Don’t do that anymore”

He was 13 when this started, not 14. I think he was 14 when he got sent away.

 

[masondoggy]

There is zero evidence that he has been a repeat offender. Indeed, it appears he has amended his life.

That may be true but I think if he offended again, it’s very unlikely it would be reported. His only access to girls has always been within the Gothard community and in that community, it is taught that girls who are abused are at fault and made to feel dirty as if they’re tarnished forever. The whole mindset is twisted.

I highly doubt many of those girls would come forward considering that their “purity” would be tarnished for any possible suitors.

Considering that Josh never received professional therapy, I think chances are very high that he continued to offend. I would be very surprised if he didn’t.

And we’ll never hear about it unless one of his victims defects from that movement and decides to come forward. Big IF.

 

[Sophie_Lawrence]

My understanding of it is that the parents took Josh to a friend that was in law enforcement to have a “stern talking to”. (I think this was a year after they first learned of the initial incident) That LE didn’t make a police report, it was an unofficial conversation off the record. Soon after that, he got caught with child porn and went to prison. If he had any record of the meeting with the Duggars (I’m confused as to if he did or didn’t) it got dropped when he went to prison. THAT is why the SOL applies because it was another 3 1/2 years before this was brought to LE’s attention again when Harpo Studio’s received a tip right before the Duggars were to appear on Oprah. That is when LE contacted the Duggars and arranged the interviews with the parents and several of the children.

By the time that happened, it was too late to prosecute because the initial cop didn’t pursue it (probably because he was a family friend of the Duggars and was apparently crooked anyways).

So all in all, it sounds like these incidences happened several times over a few years. It was reported to the parents, parents thought they dealt with it, happened again, again, and so forth. This was not just one initial incident we’re talking about here. Josh got caught at some point and went on to do it again even after he was caught.

That’s what makes this so horrific. And the boy NEVER received real therapy like he really needed. I highly doubt he is “cured” And his oldest daughter is now at the age of his youngest victim.

One of the articles posted somewhere in this thread has a police report, which has been pulled due to the Freedom of Information act.

Here it is:

intouchweekly.com/posts/bombshell-duggar-police-report-jim-bob-duggar-didn-t-report-son-josh-s-alleged-sex-offenses-for-more-than-a-year-58906

So I guess my question or confusion is that this report sat somewhere for 13 years, and CPS and/or the family court systems never were informed or never acted upon the information.

 

[Havard]

How do you know what debts he has or hasn’t paid? I find the presumptuousness of this discussion simply amazing. The laws of the state of Arkansas, which determine how criminal acts should be “paid,” are inapplicable to the situation because of the statute of limitations. So his own state isn’t seeking his scalp, but you are (or are you?)? Perhaps that ought to tell you that you’re getting a little too close to “E” on the mercy-o-meter. I suspect that God is much more merciful than the state of Arkansas, anyway, so you don’t have anything to fret about.

What presumptuousness? I never said he didn’t pay his debts, I said he should pay his debts. So should everyone.

Also, the criminal justice system =/= justice. It is our collective attempt at justice, but it often ends up falling short. Our duty to seek and promote justice does not end where the law ends. For example, if you forgive a debt that I owe you because I’m destitute, and then I win the big lottery the next day, I am going to pay you back. Because that justice.

 

[Sarcelle]

Frankly some responses in this thread is disappointing. While I agree with not holding a person’s sins against them forever, especially if they are repentant, we must extend more compassion to the victims. Simply telling them to snap out of it is callous.

For most of us here this is an academic exercise but for others it is a brutal memory.

For the others who are victims but have been able to move on, maybe they can pray for the others who are still struggling with what has happened to them. Forgiveness is a grace of God.

 

[masondoggy]

One of the articles posted somewhere in this thread has a police report, which has been pulled due to the Freedom of Information act.

Here it is:

intouchweekly.com/posts/bombshell-duggar-police-report-jim-bob-duggar-didn-t-report-son-josh-s-alleged-sex-offenses-for-more-than-a-year-58906

So I guess my question or confusion is that this report sat somewhere for 13 years, and CPS and/or the family court systems never were informed or never acted upon the information.

The police report is from the time when Harpo studios contacted law enforcement. It is NOT from the time that Jim bob and Michelle took Josh to see their cop friend. There’s over a 3 year time period between the two.

From my understanding, it was never pursued because the initial cop friend basically didn’t pursue it to protect his friends. And apparently the ball was dropped when he went to prison and the case wasn’t pursued. So by the time Harpo studio’s contacted LE with their tip, the statute of limitations had passed and they couldn’t pursue charges against Josh…thanks to the initial cop friend.

 

[LongingSoul]

This whole thing was settled long ago with everyone receiving the care, forgiveness and legal consequences due and needed. I have no doubt all this was dredged up precisely to damage the Duggar family’s credibility and to drag their name through the mud. There was no need to bring this to light when it had been properly dealt with when he was a child himself. It makes me sick the way the media gossips will revel in another’s downfall all the while ignoring their own grave sins. Makes me want to puke.

In modern America any sin in the past can be forgiven except molestation–and only within a religious context. We hear about secular people molesting children all the time, but it doesn’t get the huge publicity that religious people get. Why? Because the secular world holds to a double standard. They want to sin all they like, so they have to destroy the witness of those who believe that sin exists and has consequences. The world is “shocked, shocked!” when people of faith commit the same sins the world dismisses in its own. Please.

I think it is natural and healthy to hold religious people to a higher standard of behaviour. Religion is the guardian of morality and its credibility to teach the world relies on exemplary models of morality demonstrating the moral life. When religious examples don’t live a moral life they will always fall harder.

 

[QuestLove]

KendraDZ1902;12991158:

Kendra, with all that you are going through there is no way this thread is healthy for you. Perhaps you should consider abandoning it. I say this not because I disagree with you, In fact I do not. I agree fully. But I am finding that in the past my feelings toward people can be affected by what they post. You don’t need this right now. It is a thread on an internet forum about reality TV. I find myself quite disturbed by this thread and this story. In light of the scandals of the Church and how we should be fully educated on how to handle abuse. And I am not really affected by it like you are. Perhaps, for your own health and peace, you should at least take a break from the thread for a while. If you disagree that is fine, but I worry about you and yes, you are still in my prayers often.

I agree.
And I could also caution the other posters that sometimes we say things so glibly because we are further along the walk in healing than others are. It may not be our intention but our words can hurt and bring back hurtful memories for other people.
We can never truly understand someone’s response unless we have been in their shoes. I have seen too many friends who walked away from the church never to return because of how we treat them when they are going through these issues. Yes it is all good and well to encourage healing but how you do it matters.
As christians, of course we champion forgiveness and mercy. We should however, temper it with giving the victims time to heal. Sexual abuse is a very heavy cross to bear and we have to remember that the way we treat victims and perpetrators is going to affect whether someone comes forward early to report what happens to them.
Yes, Josh Duggar will be publicly shamed. Should we tell him to “move on” just like we are telling Kendra and many others to move on. By the way who gets to decide when “moving on” occurs for the victim - the victim, the perpretrator or society?

 

[ToeInTheWater]

First of all, KendraDZ1902, I commend you for how you’ve been speaking out for the victims here. There is a BIG difference between forcing sexual acts on others against their will, and other types of sexual sin with willing partners.

However, I’m not surprised that many posters think what Josh did was not a crime, but merely “doing inappropriate and immoral things with younger girls” – that phrasing doesn’t even acknowledge that he actually assaulted anyone, it makes it sound like it was just a case of “playing doctor”, where there are no real victims.

I’m also not surprised many think the Duggars did the right thing by “handling it internally”. I know some Christians interpret certain Bible verses as instructing them to NOT get secular legal authorities involved when one Christian sins against another.

I’m also not surprised that so many people are focusing on Josh as the victim here, as someone who just “made a mistake” and is being unfairly persecuted. Heard the same tune when the Steubenville case broke too. The boys involved didn’t really commit a crime, they just “made a mistake” and don’t deserve to have their “whole lives ruined”. What about the actual victim in that case? But no, according to some, if the victim doesn’t instantly forgive her attackers, accept their apologies and move on, SHE’S the one who’s to blame.

Also, I think we all need to realize that we don’t have the whole story here, far from it. I wonder if some posters are assuming that because the Duggar family they see on TV SEEMS to have “moved on” as if nothing happened, we know that’s definitely the case, that everything is right in Duggarland.

Well, as I recall Josh and Anna’s “courtship” was featured on TV, the part where he told her what he had done to his own sisters, didn’t make the cut, did it? I even recall a “humorous” interlude shortly before Josh’s marriage, where Jim Bob is giving Josh a lesson about the "birds and the bees. I have a feeling TLC isn’t going to be re-running THAT episode any time soon.

I also find it very disturbing that some people here apparently think a teenager forcing sexual acts on PREpubescent girls is a LESSER sin than adult homosexuals having consensual sex. The argument regarding abortion is a little more justifiable, I suppose.

I also commend Hoosier Daddy for his candor, as I recall he has defended the Duggars in the past. I respect anyone who is open-minded enough to allow new information to change their views on a matter, and be honest enough to state he is doing so.

 

[Suudy]

Frankly some responses in this thread is disappointing. While I agree with not holding a person’s sins against them forever, especially if they are repentant, we must extend more compassion to the victims. Simply telling them to snap out of it is callous.

With regard to JD’s victims, nobody has suggested that they “snap out of it.” In fact, it is the opposite. Some are saying it is impossible for the victims to have moved on. Apparently for some, the victim’s statements about forgiveness and moving on isn’t something to be believed. And nobody has called for anything but compassion for the victims.

 

[Sophie_Lawrence]

The police report is from the time when Harpo studios contacted law enforcement. It is NOT from the time that Jim bob and Michelle took Josh to see their cop friend. There’s over a 3 year time period between the two.

From my understanding, it was never pursued because the initial cop friend basically didn’t pursue it to protect his friends. And apparently the ball was dropped when he went to prison and the case wasn’t pursued. So by the time Harpo studio’s contacted LE with their tip, the statute of limitations had passed and they couldn’t pursue charges against Josh…thanks to the initial cop friend.

Oh, I see. I had no clue that the statute of limitations was that short, I guess because of his age.

Thank you.

 

[TMC]

Do you have a link to the actual report? Many of these news sites are circular in their confirmations on this story.

imgur.com/a/zqPMi#0

 

[SuperLuigi]

The story only came out a few hours ago. How could all the evidence be available yet?

It was out yesterday.

 

[SuperLuigi]

With regard to JD’s victims, nobody has suggested that they “snap out of it.” In fact, it is the opposite. Some are saying it is impossible for the victims to have moved on. Apparently for some, the victim’s statements about forgiveness and moving on isn’t something to be believed. And nobody has called for anything but compassion for the victims.

:clapping:

This post should be framed.

 

[masondoggy]

Oh, I see. I had no clue that the statute of limitations was that short, I guess because of his age.

Thank you.

It is sick that the SOL is so short for something like this. Maybe this case coming out will bring this issue to attention and force a change. There should be no SOL on sexual assault, just like with murder.

3 years is just offensive.

 

[Suudy]

However, I’m not surprised that many posters think what Josh did was not a crime, but merely “doing inappropriate and immoral things with younger girls” – that phrasing doesn’t even acknowledge that he actually assaulted anyone, it makes it sound like it was just a case of “playing doctor”, where there are no real victims.

Who said this? I haven’t seen anyone defending his behavior as acceptable.

I’m also not surprised many think the Duggars did the right thing by “handling it internally”. I know some Christians interpret certain Bible verses as instructing them to NOT get secular legal authorities involved when one Christian sins against another.

Who here has suggested this? The point I’ve been making, and I think some agree, is that it was handled. Whether or not it was handled according to some individual’s liking is another matter. Whatever action was taken appears to have had the intended effect: preventing further occurrences.

I’m also not surprised that so many people are focusing on Josh as the victim here, as someone who just “made a mistake” and is being unfairly persecuted. Heard the same tune when the Steubenville case broke too. The boys involved didn’t really commit a crime, they just “made a mistake” and don’t deserve to have their “whole lives ruined”. What about the actual victim in that case? But no, according to some, if the victim doesn’t instantly forgive her attackers, accept their apologies and move on, SHE’S the one who’s to blame.

Who’s said any of this? You are using quotes out of context to support a strawman. Who suggested that any victim “instantly forgiver her attacker, accept their apologies, and move on”? Who is blaming any of the girls?

Also, I think we all need to realize that we don’t have the whole story here, far from it. I wonder if some posters are assuming that because the Duggar family they see on TV SEEMS to have “moved on” as if nothing happened, we know that’s definitely the case, that everything is right in Duggarland.

If it is presumptuous to think that everything is fine, it is equally so to presume it isn’t. It may even be worse since there is zero evidence that things aren’t fine.

Please leave the strawmen at home.

 

[Havard]

How do you know if that happened or not? Considering that such records are confidential, we have no way of knowing if that occured or not. But given their statements about being at peace and moving on, it may have already occurred.

Never said I did. “Shoulds” and “dids” are two different discussions.

Further, the terms restitution are not yours to set.

Personally, no, collectively, yes. As above, laws and the justice system is our collective attempt at justice. But it is not to be confused with justice. Sometimes it’s the bare minimum. We should always advocate proper redress, whatever that is,

Considering there is zero evidence of any repeat offenses in the last 13 years, I think it is very likely that he is not a risk.

Perhaps there isn’t. Like I said, I think he should submit to a comprehensive, independent eval.

 

[Sophie_Lawrence]

It is sick that the SOL is so short for something like this. Maybe this case coming out will bring this issue to attention and force a change. There should be no SOL on sexual assault, just like with murder.

3 years is just offensive.

I believe in my state there are no SOL for sex crimes, but at the same time, when a juvenile becomes of age, his record is sealed.

My husband was a victim of armed robbery a number of years ago, and the kid who did it had is record sealed at 21.

Juvenile crime is really an area that is not treated well. I feel the goal should be rehabilitation for juveniles in general, but often there are not enough resources. The goal should be to rehabilitate a 13-14 year old. Here it seems it was brushed under the rug.

 

[QuestLove]

There was one one girl who was not a part of the family who was molested. This is for all posters, How would you respond to the situation if that was your child, would you be fine with letting the family and/or church deal with it?

Do you think maybe this could be the family who has been sending the anonymous tips over the years? Who else could know since their church is so insular?

 

[Suudy]

There was one one girl who was not a part of the family who was molested. This is for all posters, How would you respond to the situation if that was your child, would you be fine with letting the family and/or church deal with it?

What I think is irrelevant. I would react differently that any of the victim’s parents did. But I don’t get to tell those parents how they should act unless their inaction led to continued abuse. And it doesn’t appear that it did.