Jill Duggar and her husband, Derick Dillard, issued a public statement after news broke that her brother, Joseph Duggar, had been arrested on child molestation charges, as reported by Page Six.

The couple shared their response in a blog post published Thursday, one day after reports surfaced about Joseph Duggar’s arrest. According to their statement, they were unaware of the situation until they were contacted by a friend.

“We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020,” the couple wrote.

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Jill Duggar, 34, and Dillard, 37, said they were “shocked” by the information and described themselves as “heartbroken” over the allegations.

In their statement, the couple said they “strongly condemn abuse” and expressed support for the legal process moving forward.

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“We support the rule of law and hope that justice will be achieved. Our hearts go out to the innocent juvenile victim of this unspeakable crime and her family. We pray God gives her strength, comfort, and hope, and that she is able to get all the help and support she needs and deserves in the days ahead.”

The couple also addressed the impact of the situation on Joseph Duggar’s immediate family, including his wife, Kendra Duggar, and their four children.

“We pray that they feel loved and supported during this time as we cannot imagine the indescribable pain they feel as they process and grieve everything,” the statement concluded.

Jill Duggar later shared the same message on her Instagram account, accompanied by a broken heart emoji.

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While Jill Duggar was among the first members of the Duggar family to publicly respond to the arrest, a separate statement was issued on behalf of Joseph Duggar through his attorney.

The 38-year-old, who is a convicted sex offender, expressed that he was “deeply saddened” and criticized what he described as the damaging effects of “false accusations.”

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His attorney told the Daily Mail, “He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction.”

Joseph Duggar is currently serving a 12-year sentence related to convictions for receiving and possessing child pornography, and he is attempting to appeal that sentence.

In the latest case, authorities said he is being held in Arkansas at the Washington County Jail as he awaits extradition to Bay County, Florida.

He has been charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than 12, as well as lewd and lascivious behavior toward a victim aged 18 or older.

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No additional details about the case have been released publicly.

A spokesperson for the Duggar family told Page Six that the family does not have an official statement at this time.

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