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Josh Duggar was allegedly on the Arkansas sex offenders’ register for molesting his sisters years before he was arrested on child pornography charges, new court documents claim.
The bombshell accusation was made in court documents filed on August 30 by the city of Springdale and other defendants – referred to as the Springdale Defendants – after Duggar’s four sisters filed a lawsuit against them in 2017.
That 2017 lawsuit hit out at the City of Springdale for revealing information about the Duggar sisters’ alleged abuse at the hands of Josh in response to a Freedom of Information request made by In Touch magazine, which the siblings say breached their privacy.
The new filings seek to prove that Duggar was on the sex offenders’ registry for molesting his sisters.
If they can stand their claim up, the Springfield Defendants would be able to say that Josh Duggar’s appearance on the register for molesting his siblings would undermine the central claim of the sisters’ lawsuit that the abuse was a private matter known only to them.
Duggar, 33, is not currently listed on the sex offender registry for the state of Arkansas. He has never been charged over allegations that he sexually assaulted his sisters.
Josh Duggar was on the Arkansas Sex Offenders’ registry years before he was accused of possessing child pornography, a new lawsuit claims
Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar pose during the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center in 2015
It remains unclear if Duggar was ever placed on the sex offender registry in relation to allegations that he sexually assaulted his sisters, with Arkansas and other states only listing defendants convicted of sex crimes.
The lawsuit – filed in an Arkansas federal court by Josh Duggar’s sisters Jill Dillard, Jessa Seewald, Jinger Vuolo and Joy Duggar – claims police interviewed them about sexual assault allegations in December 2006 when they were still minors.
The sisters claim they were ‘assured’ that the results of the interviews – including ‘where and how on their bodies’ they were allegedly touched by their brother – would remain confidential.
However, celebrity gossip magazine In Touch Weekly submitted a Freedom of Information Act request in 2015 seeking all files naming members of the Duggar family and were allegedly given an un-redacted version of police reports.
In Touch Weekly then reported that Duggar had molested four of his five sisters, leading them to suffer ‘extreme mental anguish.’ The trial for the lawsuit was recently pushed back from September to December 2021.
Duggar’s sisters Jill, 29, and Jessa, 28, have both spoken publicly about claims their brother molested them, and said they forgave him.
The new allegations were made in court documents filed by the Springdale Defendants seeking to compel the Arkansas Department of Human Services to produce documents for a subpoena they had served the agency with on August 2.
The Springdale Defendants had subpoenaed the DHS to produce documentation they believe could help their argument that the allegations of sexual assault by Josh Duggar were already public knowledge before the police report was released to In Touch Weekly, documents obtained by DailyMail.com show.
The claim was made in response to a lawsuit filed by Duggar’s sisters (l-r) Joy, Jinger, Jessa, Jill and Jana. Jill and Jessa have both spoken out about their brother’s alleged abuse
Jessa Duggar, Jinger Duggar, Jill Duggar, and Jana Duggar visit “Extra” at their New York studios at H&M in Times Square in 2014 in New York City
Duggar previously apologized for a pornography addiction and cheating on his wife, Anna, who is pregnant with their seventh child
The DHS filed a Motion to Quash the subpoena and not provide the documents, arguing that the records requested by the Springdale Defendants are subject to confidentiality laws because they involve reports on the ‘maltreatment’ of children.
‘The Defendant does not fall under any of the exceptions to the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Act’s confidentiality requirements, and Defendant has not asserted that it falls under any of the exceptions,’ the DHS argued.
But the Springdale Defendants shot back that they have a ‘substantial and compelling need for the documentation in the possession of DHS.’ They noted that a protective order in place would prevent the public release of personal information.
‘Upon information and belief, Joshua Duggar was placed on the sex offender registry and a legal proceeding was undertaken to remove Joshua Duggar from the sex offender registry,’ the Springdale Defendants argued.
‘The Defendants are entitled to this information and documentation due to one of the central elements of Plaintiffs claims being public disclosure of private information.’
Duggar is pictured outside an Arkansas court earlier this year after his child pornography arrest
Josh Duggar is pictured as he is released from jail
The document continued: ‘If Joshua Duggar was placed on the sex offender registry other information such as incest, molestation of family members, or other identifying information could have led to the disclosure of the information Plaintiffs claim was private and not known to the public.’
‘Additionally, correspondence between Joshua Duggar and/or his agents in the possession of DHS regarding his removal from the sex offender registry could provide information as to the public knowledge of Joshua Duggar’s acts of molestation and his victims.’
The DHS has requested that if it is compelled to comply with the subpoena, that all named in any child maltreatment report be redacted to protect their privacy as mandated by state law.
The Duggar sisters have said they ‘continue to be emotionally upset and humiliated by the disclosure of their identities as underage molestation victims and the intimate details of those assaults, including the fact that their brother was their assailant.’
Duggar, who appeared in TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, was indicted in April on two counts of downloading and possessing child pornography, some of which prosecutors said depicted the sexual abuse of toddlers.
He has pleaded not guilty and has been confined to the home of family friends who agreed to be his custodian during his release. He is prohibited from using any Internet-accessible devices as he awaits trial.
The reality show was canceled in 2015 following the allegations that Duggar had molested his sisters and a babysitter. Duggar’s parents said he confessed to the fondling and apologized.
Duggar previously apologized for a pornography addiction and cheating on his wife, Anna, who is pregnant with their seventh child.
Anna Duggar has supported her husband through his legal battle – and Josh is allowed to see their children when she is present while he awaits trial.
His trial has been set for November 30, with a pretrial conference on November 18. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 on each count.
