Josh Duggar alleged sexual abuse - new developments

[Firiel]

I saved a record of what Ruth posted on TWOP under the name ofduggar. Going through it just now, this is the only reference to the Josh allegations.[attachment=0]ofduggar.png[/attachment]

I don't know how helpful that is. She probably had a bunch of accounts over there.

She had at least two. Apparently, the comments in question were posted under her jhawksgirl account. Actually, the connection between jhawksgirl and the Duggar rumors was made before we knew that Ruth was fake and was ALSO jhawksgirl.

EDIT: Funny how under one account, she's dismissing the rumors and apparently under another perpetuating them. That lady is messed up.

EDIT EDIT: Just wanted to add that though I'm fascinated with this rumor and how it could have started/spread, I really don't believe for a second that Josh molested someone. I'm interested in the rumor, its growth, and it's connection to C*.

[mpheels]

The fact the the dates and ages keep changing really just kills the rumor in IMHO. First it was two 14 year olds, now it's 16/17 year old with a younger girl. The tabloids currently claim the incident took place in 2005, but Concernedmom posted in April 2005 about an incident that occurred at least a year earlier, which makes the tabloid timeline impossible. I really think one of the tabloid reporters stumbled upon the completely coincidental state police/child pornography story by accident, and decided it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up.

[theinvisiblegirl]

The more I read about this thread - I'm learning a lot about Fundies because of this! - the more I'm thinking maybe JB caught Josh doing something that wouldn't normally be considered inappropriate - holding hands, a peck on the cheek, a full frontal hug - and completely overreacted. Maybe he wanted to scare Josh straight so he took him to the police? Does the officer in question have any ties to ATI/IBLP? Because, if he does, JB could have brought Josh there just to scare him? These are just my thoughts, obviously.

We're probably never going to know what happened.

[Rachel333]

I don't even like Josh, but I'm definitely inclined to think this isn't true and I feel really bad for him if so. I hope he clears his name if possible.

[Fascinated]

This discussion does need to proceed with caution. We cannot have any so-called news outlets picking up 'information' from here, as they have no doubt done in the past.

[apandaaries]

I've been sexually abused on multiple occasions. I would take sexual abuse over being wrongfully accused of sexual abuse.

That may be your opinion, but please note that you do not speak for all victims of sexual abuse.

[copyed]

This got heated quickly. I'm concerned on multiple levels. I've always felt Josh was off and that they married him off as quickly as was acceptable (by the time he had established the car lot, since the $$$TLC$$$ probably wasn't rolling in as quickly in 2008 as it is now). I also feel free to say that there's something off about JimBob. Something about his personality tells me he's very different behind closed doors.

[socalrules]

I just don't see Jim Bob taking one of his kids to the police. Unless one was accused of murder I don't see it happening. I also have a hard time believing Josh had any chance to even sneak into a girl's room or would even have the nerve to do so.

Another thing is that even if a report is made to the police, they usually cannot legally confirm or deny sexual assault investigations, especially related to minor. Or even their outcome. So there is a possibility this may hang over Josh, even ruin him, even though he could have been vindicated if there was any type of investigation. The more I hear about this story the less believable it is becoming. In the beginning I thought maybe this was related to something simple like normal kids kissing we would be fine with but fundies would freak out over. Now I am starting to think none of it was true. None of it is tracking. I don't like the speculation as to whether the girl was a sister or some fundy girl, especially his sisters who are going to have people looking at them wondering if they were a victim of a sexual assault. I don't like Josh or his beliefs but also don't want to start pointing fingers at him as sexual predator when there has been zero evidence put forth. Someone posting on a blog is not proof of guilt.

[Coco]

This got heated quickly. I'm concerned on multiple levels. I've always felt Josh was off and that they married him off as quickly as was acceptable (by the time he had established the car lot, since the $$$TLC$$$ probably wasn't rolling in as quickly in 2008 as it is now). I also feel free to say that there's something off about JimBob. Something about his personality tells me he's very different behind closed doors.

He was 20 when he and Anna married. That's young to most people but it's not super young by fundie standards. They don't typically go to college so they go right into married life about 5-10 years earlier than most people on average. It's a completely normal age for fundies. Young for fundies = would be Ben's age. :lol:

[happy atheist]

EDIT EDIT: Just wanted to add that though I'm fascinated with this rumor and how it could have started/spread, I really don't believe for a second that Josh molested someone. I'm interested in the rumor, its growth, and it's connection to C*.

!	{TEXT1}:
	You (and everyone else) need to stop posting her real name.

[Fascinated]

Was Josh ever betrothed to someone besides Anna? When he was 14?

[twinmama]

I'm just curious, is it not illegal to write stories using the names of minors (or people who were minors at the time of the incident) involved in a crime or sex abuse investigation? I thought juvenile records were sealed and all that???

Also, even if he was investigated for something as a child, it doesn't mean he did it or that he was molesting someone or that anything illegal happened.

[Firiel]

You (and everyone else) need to stop posting her real name.

Sorry about that. I thought that format was how I had seen it referenced in the past, so I was trying to follow those guidelines. I will be more careful from now on.

[MistofRain752]

I vaguely remember on one of the early Duggar shows, after they were on Discovery, Josh admitted to committing a sin when he was 17 years old. That he believed God had forgiven

him and the hurt he caused his parents. I thought to myself at that age what did he do? Go out with some local teens and had a few beers and got drunk? I do remember that. I don't have the resources or time to hunt down this show were Josh said that. It may have been just before he started courting Anna. Does anyone else remember that has been a long time

watcher?

[Firiel]

This discussion does need to proceed with caution. We cannot have any so-called news outlets picking up 'information' from here, as they have no doubt done in the past.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is where they got the story in the first place.

[halcionne]

Sorry about the real name.

[jerkit]

I vaguely remember on one of the early Duggar shows, after they were on Discovery, Josh admitted to committing a sin when he was 17 years old. That he believed God had forgiven

him and the hurt he caused his parents. I thought to myself at that age what did he do? Go out with some local teens and had a few beers and got drunk? I do remember that. I don't have the resources or time to hunt down this show were Josh said that. It may have been just before he started courting Anna. Does anyone else remember that has been a long time

watcher?

During the "very early" specials he was younger than 17.

[JessaJessa]

Does anyone know who "Alice" is? Is she still around and/or part of the Duggar's life?

[Buzzard]

Lets take this rumor from a doctrinal angle. The Duggars believe that the ultimate authority is God. Money is a close second, law is probably 17th. If God is your ultimate authority, and your firstborn son and torch carrier commits what you consider to be a grievous sin, who do you report to? THE CHURCH.

You do not submit yourself to civil authorities before you seek repentance and absolution from the church. Even after you seek the church's advice, you likely dont go to civil authorities.

There is no way Gothard told Jim Bob to take Josh to the police. There is no way TLC would have started the show with the specter of sexual assault hanging out there under investigation, juvenile or not. This is especially true if one of the sibling were the victim. If there was another instance and they were present or even got something on camera they'd be drawn in.

Even if there was no prosecution, there would be a lawsuit. The victim would have had time after she turned 18 to file so this would be around recently.

No legal document = didnt happen

[Firiel]

Does anyone know who "Alice" is? Is she still around and/or part of the Duggar's life?

There is no evidence that she is real or knows the Duggars personally.

My opinion is that she is not a Duggar insider but rather just a random person on the Internet looking to get attention.

[MistofRain752]

During the "very early" specials he was younger than 17.

Yes, Josh said this when he was around 20 or 21.

[umbrellaella]

I believe I commented on a post quite awhile ago about some (other) tabloid rumor. Having worked in the entertainment industry, and having dealt with both "regular"/"mainstream" news agencies as well as tabloids, I have a couple thoughts:

- I know people don't think of the tabloids as credible, especially supermarket rags. However, these days, they know exactly what they are doing and what they can and can't say, imply, etc. More often then not the stories they get wrong are "fluff" pieces (ie; who's dating who). Speculative junk that no one would be able to legally pursue as there are no real damages, and are more often then not leaked by publicists to keep their client hot. They have much more room to embellish and speculate on those without fear of a lawsuit. They have to be VERY careful with potential life-impacting articles such as discussion of a sex scandal or affair. If they are wrong, or word something improperly, they open themselves up to MASSIVE, multi-million dollar lawsuits. All the tabloids have legal departments who approve each piece. This is why they generally will not post pieces of this nature without a solid source (usually multiple) as well as access to documents. Often they will not outright say in the article they have had their hands on documents (especially ones that are sealed and not public), but they did see prior to publication by way of a confidential, inside source.

- I'm not saying the story is true. Obviously there's no way I could know that. However I don't believe they composed and published this story strictly based on an old internet rumor, as many here seem to think. The way it's worded (especially the on-the-record quote from the police officer stating he cannot comment due to the sensitive nature of the incident and because there was a minor involved, which FYI they CANNOT make up quotes- it's overwhelmingly likely this statement was made to them by the person it's attributed to) makes me think that there very well IS something fishy. To what extent, I have no idea. If this was pulled from an old forum the site would usually be mentioned ("...according to a user on the internet message board XYZ"). This is how almost all the article involving Jessa and Ben's wedding "scandal" were cited...."According to [whatever her name was] on the blog "My Life as a Wife and Stay At Home Mother.......".

I know it's getting terribly confusing since OTHER tabloids have now picked it up using quotes from the original InTouch(?) article. But as I said above, the fact a story of this nature was picked up, (allegedly vetted) and approved for publication by InTouch's legal team, knowing that this opens themselves up to the worst-of-worst, easiest to win type of lawsuit if in fact there was no traction behind it, makes me give it a second look.

What happens in the next few days will be very telling- now that it's gotten mainstream attention, and the Duggar's are big revenue generators, everyone will be investigating it, trying to speak to sources involved, etc. If it is (devastatingly) true, it should be apparent by this week.

If it's not true, I hope to god Josh sues the pants of them, as he would surely have a strong leg to stand on for malice.

[eh02]

umbrellaella, you do raise some good points. It is hard not to think that Boob and Josh would have sued years ago the first time someone started passing rumors around if they knew there was no truth to it at all. ESPECIALLY if it was about minors. It seems that it'd be pretty easy to come out and say "that's a lie, and no investigation occurred because there was never a report of any wrongdoing." Simple, right?

And I agree that there's a big difference between petty gossip like Jana dating Tim Tebow. Nobody is going to sue a tabloid for suggesting they might be dating someone. But people WOULD and DO sue tabloids for reporting about criminal things that are not true.

[doggie]

I bet this is more of the same but it does seem to have more info.

http://www.salon.com/2015/05/20/report_ ... socialflow

The Duggar family might not be quite as “wholesome†as they would hope. According to a new report, Josh Duggar — the eldest of the “19 Kids & Counting†crew and a current anti-gay activist — was named as the alleged offender in a 2004 underage sexual abuse investigation. And he was reportedly turned in by none other than his father, Jim Bob.

Recently unearthed documents from an Arkansas State Police investigation indicate that police planned to pursue charges against Duggar, according to In Touch magazine. The reality star, then 17, was reportedly brought to the police after his father saw him leaving an underage girl’s bedroom and learned “something inappropriate†had happened. But the case was never concluded, the magazine reports, because of “a bizarre turn of eventsâ€:

The state trooper who originally took the report about Josh shortly before 2005 never followed up. That state trooper was later convicted on child pornography charges and is serving a 56-year prison sentence.

When the state trooper ran into trouble, someone from the Arkansas State Police alerted the Child Abuse Hotline about the Duggar situation that had been sitting inactive. That’s when the Crimes Against Children Division and Springdale Police Department got involved. By then the three-year statute of limitations had passed and it would not have been possible to pursue prosecution of Josh if the allegations warranted, so the investigation was discontinued.

Sgt. Darrel Hignite, who is believed to have led the investigation into Duggar’s alleged actions, would not comment on the case. Neither Duggar nor his family have commented on the allegations.

[apandaaries]

Salon is picking it up, too? Interesting.