Joseph and Kendra Duggar withdraw not guilty pleas in Arkansas case

Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Duggar, have withdrawn their not guilty pleas in an Arkansas criminal case involving child endangerment and false imprisonment. The couple submitted a ‘plea by order’ shortly before a scheduled court appearance, a move that allows them to transition to either guilty or no contest pleas.

The Arkansas charges stem from a March investigation following a search of the couple’s Tontitown residence. Authorities reportedly discovered locks installed on the exterior of doors leading to the children’s bedrooms. Both Joseph and Kendra face four counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. If convicted on all counts, they face up to eight years in prison.

This legal development is separate from Joseph Duggar’s ongoing criminal case in Florida, where he is accused of lewd and lascivious molestation involving a victim under the age of 12. In the Florida matter, Joseph has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. While Kendra has been granted permission to see their four children, the court has denied Joseph’s request for unsupervised visits.