Joy-Anna Duggar‘s husband, Austin Forsyth, sent his brother-in-law Joseph Duggar a supportive letter following Joseph’s child molestation arrest.
“I want you to know that I love you,” Austin, 32, wrote in emails obtained by Us Weekly during Joseph’s stay in Arkansas’ Washington County Detention Center. “Jesus loves you, and continues to draw you closer to Him.”
Joseph was arrested on March 18 on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, molesting a victim under 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person over 18. He has pleaded not guilty.
A 14-year-old victim came forward to Arkansas police with allegations that Joseph, 31, molested her when she was 9 years old during a vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida in 2020.
Four additional counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree, and four counts of second degree false imprisonment were levied against Joseph and his wife, Kendra Duggar, over completely separate allegations in Arkansas.
In his email to Joseph, Austin insisted that he was not prepared to discuss the details of his brother-in-law’s legal case.
“I don’t want to discuss your issues over these communications. You need to only be talking to your attorney,” Austin wrote to Joseph. “Please know that God works despite the sin of man for his good.”
He continued, “I am praising God that we started getting closer to you guys within the last year and a half. He knew that Kendra was going to need help. We will, and are helping her!”
Austin’s wife, Joy-Anna, initially broke her silence about her brother’s arrest on March 26.
“What has come out about my brother is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “My heart is with the victim, and I am grieved by the pain and harm caused.”
Joy-Anna, 28, added, “I have been a wreck this week and am taking time to process … Thank you for your prayers.”
Austin is not the only member of the Duggar family to reach out to Joseph behind bars. Joseph has discussed his prison workout routine and potential legal strategies with his wife Kendra in multiple phone calls released in recent weeks.
Joseph also received supportive emails from his older brother Josh Duggar’s wife Anna Duggar. Josh, 38, is currently serving a 151-month prison sentence for receiving and possessing child pornography in 2022. (Josh maintains his innocence.)
“You’ve got our prayers. We love you — however we can help, please let us know,” Anna, 37, wrote to Joseph, 31, on March 21. “I think I put some money on your books. I don’t remember how phone calls and video calls work.”
She went on, “Please let me know if I can help get things set up so you can call and talk with Kendra. Just remember, don’t talk about anything legal unless you are with an attorney. Everything said in these messages, phone calls and video chats are recorded and turned over to prosecutors.”
Joseph was extradited from the Washington County Detention Center in Arkansas to Florida’s Bay County Jail on March 31 ahead of his upcoming trial.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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