Do Discovery and TLC have a child molester problem?
'19 Kids and Counting' star Josh Duggar speaks out on molestation allegations but does TLC and Discovery have a molestation problem?
Josh Duggar, of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting," resigned his position at the Family Research Council Thursday after reports surfaced that he allegedly sexually assaulted four female siblings in the large family, plus an additional female victim.
The 2006 police report obtained by In Touch Weekly magazine revealed that one of the Duggar siblings, who In Touch Weekly identified as Josh Duggar allegedly committed the assaults.
The incidents date back to 2002 when Duggar would have been 14 years old. In the 33-page police report that FOX411 viewed, the name of the Duggar family members in question are redacted throughout.
Several members of the Duggar family were interviewed by police, as detailed in the report, and they confirmed the incidents, but all the victims said they felt safe at their home, and that no incidents had occurred since Josh returned from the "training center."
They said the incidents brought the family closer to God and that their brother had been forgiven.
He and his parents both issued statements on the matter Thursday.
"Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. 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," Jim Bob and Michelle said in a statement to People Magazine.
"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," the statement read.
"I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions," Josh said in a separate statement released by People, "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."
TLC would provide no comment on the report when contacted by FOX411.
An Arkansas State Police public information officer referred FOX411 to Arkansas code §12-18-104 which states “any data, records, reports, or documents that are created, collected, or compiled by or on behalf of the Department of Human Services, the Department of Arkansas State Police, or other entity authorized under this chapter to perform investigations or provide services to children, individuals, or families shall not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, 25-19-101 et seq.”
However, In Touch claims they got the records from the Springdale Police Department through the same Freedom of Information Act.
The report states that Jim Bob Duggar was first alerted by one of the alleged victims in March 2002. She allegedly told Jim Bob that Josh had been touching her genitals and breasts while she was sleeping, according to the report.
The report states that Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar then learned that multiple incidents like this had occurred. Jim Bob told police, when he was interviewed in 2006, that the Duggars sent their son to a Christian program at the advice of their church elders. However, later in the report Michelle Duggar states where their son was sent was "not really a training center," rather he was sent to stay with an acquaintance and do manual labor.
According to the report, Jim Bob told police he spoke with an Arkansas State Trooper in 2003 after another incident occurred. The trooper, who the police report states knew the Duggar family, explained to Josh what could happen if he continued this behavior.
The report explains that after a family friend became aware of the situation upon finding a letter that detailed the incidents that had been left in a book loaned to the friend by a member of the Duggar family, a call was made to the Child Abuse Hotline, which led to the Crimes Against Children and the Springdale Police Department investigating the case in 2006.
Josh Duggar, now 27, has three children with his wife, Anna, and one on the way. They live in Washington, D.C., where Duggar worked as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council until his resignation Thursday.
FRC president Tony Perkins reacted to Duggar's resignation in a statement obtained by Fox News.
"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.
"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," concluded Perkins.
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