It’s over!!! The sentence for sexual assault perpetrator Joseph Dougar has been announced.
Joseph Duggar appeared remotely for the court appearance from the Bay County Jail in Florida, where he was booked into custody at 7:30 a.m. on March 31
Joseph Duggar made his first appearance before a Florida judge on Tuesday morning.
The reality star, 31, appeared remotely from the Bay County Jail for the proceedings just a few hours after being booked into custody at the facility following his extradition from Arkansas.
His bond was set at $600,000 by the judge during his brief appearance, and he is due back in court on April 20.
He is accused of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl multiple times during a family vacation to Panama City Beach in 2020 and is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior molesting a victim under 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person over 18.
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Two days before his court appearance, Joseph submitted a written plea of not guilty to all charges, waived arraignment on those charges and demanded a jury trial, in a document signed by his attorney.
His court appearance comes exactly two weeks after he first confessed to the father of his accuser, according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant obtained by PEOPLE.
The following day, Josephâs accuser, who is now 14, spoke with a detective from the Tontitown Police Department
Bay County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigator Chase Norris summarized that interview in the affidavit, writing that Joseph “asked the victim to sit on his lap, numerous times” and “would cradle the victim with his arms.”
Joseph then began to “ask the victim to sit on the couch” beside him, according to the affidavit.
Once sitting, Joseph “covered the parties with a blanket” the affidavit says, before proceeding to “pull the victimâs dress up and touch the victimâs thighs.”
In her interview the girl said Joseph “would touch the top portions of her thighs and would inch higher and higher, closer to the victimâs waistline.”
The girl said this happened on several occasions, and that “the defendantâs hand grazed the victimâs vagina” each time, “which made her feel uncomfortable and confused,” according to the affidavit.
Joseph “eventually approached the victim and apologized for his actions” according to the affidavit, and “the incidents stopped occurring after the defendant apologized for his actions.”
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Joseph was arrested just hours after that interview on March 18 by officers with the TPD at his home in Arkansas.
He was then held at the Washington County Detention Facility until March 27, when he was extradited to Florida.
He is now the second Duggar son to face criminal charges involving alleged underage victims.
In 2021, Joseph’s oldest brother Josh, 38, was convicted by a federal jury of receiving and possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct .
Josh, who as a teenager also molested five young women including four of his sisters, is now serving a 12-year sentence in a Texas prison.
AÂ spokesperson for the Duggar family previously told PEOPLE: “Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation. Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time. They are praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.â
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.




