The Duggars are breaking their silence regarding the child molestation rumors surrounding Josh Duggar.
In Touch Weekly reported on Wednesday that the 27-year-old "19 Kids and Counting" reality star was named in a police report as the "alleged offender" in an underage sexual abuse probe. In a personal statement to People, Duggar confessed to his wrongdoings and admitted to seeking help after his disturbing actions.
"Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret," he said in the statement.
"I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life."
The 2006 police report obtained by In Touch revealed that as a minor, Duggar allegedly molested five underage girls. His actions reportedly included fondling the breasts and genitals of the underaged girls - sometimes as the girls slept. The report added that Jim Bob Duggar turned his son into the Arkansas State Police after he caught him leaving an underage girl's bedroom and "learned [that] something inappropriate happened."
Duggar was investigated for sexual assault in the fourth degree, however, the state trooper who took the report was convicted of child pornography and is currently serving a 56-year prison sentence. Since a few years passed since the alleged incident occurred, the statute of limitation has expired and the investigation was dropped.
Prior to reporting the incident, Josh's parents sent him to a Christian program at the advice of their church elders, which he was enrolled in from March 2003 to July 2003. Michelle Duggar later stated that her son was "not really at a training center," rather he was staying with an acquaintance and doing manual labor.
Duggar was accused several more times before Jim Bob involved the police in 2003. The trooper, who according to the police report knew the Duggar family, explained to a younger Duggar the consequences of his behavior.
The report was made public after a person found a letter that detailed the incidents in a book loaned to a friend of the family. The individual reportedly called Child Abuse Hotline, which led to the Crimes Against Children and the Springdale Police Department investigating the incident in 2006.
"I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions," Josh added. "I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God's grace, mercy, and redemption."
Duggar's wife, Anna, with whom he has three children, Mackynzie, Michael, and Marcus, with a fourth on the way, confessed that her husband revealed his "past teenage mistakes" two years before he proposed.
"I can imagine the shock many of you are going through reading this. I remember feeling that same shock," she told People. "When my family and I first visited the Duggar home, Josh shared his past teenage mistakes. I was surprised at his openness and humility and at the same time didn't know why he was sharing it. For Josh, he wanted not just me but my parents to know who he really was even every difficult past mistakes."
Anna added, "He continued to do what he was taught. [I know] who Josh really is someone who had gone down a wrong path and had humbled himself before God and those whom he had offended. Someone who had received the help needed to change the direction of his life and do what is right."
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have released their own statements via the family's official Facebook page.
"Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives," they said in the joint statement. "When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before."
Their statement continues, "Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God. We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family. We have challenges and struggles every day. It is one of the reasons we treasure our faith so much because God's kindness and goodness and forgiveness are extended to us - even though we are so undeserving. We hope somehow the story of our journey - the good times and the difficult times - cause you to see the kindness of God and learn that He can bring you through anything."
Josh Duggar has resigned from his position at the Family Research Council amid the child molestation becoming public.
"Today Josh Duggar made the decision to resign his position as a result of previously unknown information becoming public concerning events that occurred during his teenage years," FRC President Tony Perkins said in a statement Thursday on the group's website. "Josh believes that the situation will make it difficult for him to be effective in his current work. We believe this is the best decision for Josh and his family at this time. We will be praying for everyone involved."
