Jill Duggar Dillard Speaks Out After Brother's Arrest

Jill Duggar Dillard, who formerly starred successful TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting," said retired for nan first clip since nan apprehension of her younger relative saying successful a family connection “Our hearts spell retired to nan guiltless juvenile unfortunate of this unspeakable crime and her family.”

Joseph Duggar, 31, was arrested Wednesday and is accused of molesting a 9-year-old woman six years agone during a picnic successful Florida. He was charged pinch molestation of a unfortunate little than 12 years-old and lewd and lascivious behaviour conducted by a personification 18 years aliases older, nan Bay County Sheriff’s Office successful Florida said successful a news release.

Dillard and her family added successful a connection connected their website they were "shocked and heartbroken" to study astir nan accusations done media reports this week.

"We powerfully condemn abuse. We support nan norm of rule and dream that justness will beryllium achieved," nan connection said connected their website.

"We believe God gives her strength, comfortableness and hope, and that she is capable to get each nan thief and support she needs and deserves successful nan days ahead," nan family added.

Authorities said that nan now 14-year-old woman told rule enforcement that Duggar allegedly touched her inappropriately connected respective occasions during a family picnic successful Panama City Beach successful 2020.

The woman said Duggar many times asked her to beryllium connected his lap, beryllium adjacent to him connected a sofa and utilized a broad to screen nan some of them, authorities said. Duggar rubbed his hands connected her thighs, "manipulated nan victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals," nan sheriff's agency added.

He apologized astatine a later day and nan incidents stopped, nan sheriff's agency said.

Authorities said nan girl’s begetter confronted Duggar astir nan alleged maltreatment connected Tuesday.

"Duggar admitted his actions to nan victim’s begetter and to Tontitown Detectives," nan news merchandise said.

"19 Kids and Counting" followed nan location life of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar and their 19 children, making nan family a family name. It aired for 10 seasons from 2008 to 2015 until revelations surfaced that nan eldest son, Josh Duggar, molested 5 children, including 4 of his sisters.

In 2022, Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12 1/2 years successful national situation for receiving and possessing kid activity maltreatment images.

TLC has not returned a petition for comment.