Jana Duggar Breaks Silence on Brother Joseph Duggar’s Arrest for Child Molestation

Jana Duggar Wissmann is speaking out for the first time since her brother Joseph Duggar was arrested.

On Wednesday, Mar. 18, Joseph was arrested and charged for Lewd and Lascivious Behavior, involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Two days later, Joseph and his wife Kendra were hit with additional child endangerment charges—unrelated to Joseph’s initial case.

On Thursday, Apr. 2, Jana and her husband Stephen issued a statement via Instagram in response to the arrest.

“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the situation involving my brother, Joseph,” the statement read. “This news came as a shock to us, as we had no prior knowledge before it became public. Our hearts are with the child who has been harmed—this is a grievous and unacceptable wrong. We continue to pray for the victim and for justice to be carried out.”

RELATED: Jim Bob Duggar’s Email to Joseph Duggar in Jail Revealed

Joseph entered a written plea of not guilty on Sunday, Mar. 29 and requested a jury trial. He was released from jail after posting a $600,000 bond on Tuesday, Mar. 31.

Joseph’s next court date was set by a judge in Florida for April 20 at 9 a.m. local time.

This is not the first arrest for the Duggar family, either. Jana and Joseph’s older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material in 2021 and sentenced to over 12 years in prison.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.

RELATED: Jessa Duggar Releases New Statement on Joseph Duggar’s Arrest—and Takes Out Support for Wife Kendra

This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.