Josh Duggar was indeed the subject of a police investigation regarding sexual molestation, a new report indicates, and it allegedly involved five girls.
Some of the victims were the 19 Kids & Counting star's own sisters.
The story of a then-teenage Josh Duggar investigated for sexual abuse first broke earlier this week, but now more disturbing details have come out.
According to TMZ, Josh was the alleged molester of five girls starting in 2002. Supposedly, his father Jim Bob turned him in, believing he had no choice.
How would even Jim Bob find out, though? Well, now it makes sense.
Josh allegedly fondled his own siblings' genitals and breasts while the young girls were sleeping, and sometimes they were interacting with him.
In one case, the molestation took place while reading a book.
There was another reported incident nine months later, and according to the police report, the police were not immediately contacted in that case.
Jim Bob Duggar reportedly met with local church elders and agreed Josh should be put in a treatment program - this is according to the police report.
Josh's mom, Michelle Duggar, also said it wasn't really a treatment center, and that he was sent away to work on buildings with a remodeling company.
In 2006, the family was scheduled to appear on Oprah, and before the show someone sent an email to her production company about Josh's troubles.
It is not clear who tipped off Oprah's people or why.
Oprah's company, Harpo, forwarded the email to some sort of sexual abuse hotline, which triggered the Arkansas State police investigation of Josh.
Jim Bob sought legal representation for Josh, who declined to be interviewed by police; the statute of limitations has long since expired by this point.
As for the Duggar family, one of them told the police at the time of the investigation that "this entire incident had brought the family closer to God."
Clearly they're standing by Josh now. The Duggars are closing ranks and refraining from any sort of comment now that this story has blown up.
http://ce.ivyrc.com/josh-duggar-accused-of-molesting-five-girls-including-sisters/