Kendra and Joseph Duggar Withdraw Not-Guilty Pleas in Arkansas Child Welfare Case

Kendra Duggar and her husband, Joseph, avoided an Arkansas court appearance Monday after withdrawing their previous not-guilty pleas in a case involving their children.

The couple entered pleas by order of the court to four counts each of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree false imprisonment, according to a spokesperson for the Washington County District Court. A judge will now decide whether to accept the pleas and determine any penalties.

The charges stem from a March 19 search of the couple’s home by Tontitown police and the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Authorities have said the case involved locks placed on the outside of bedroom doors.

Kendra was arrested following the search and released on bail several hours later. Joseph was already in custody in connection with a separate case in Florida and was awaiting extradition.

If convicted on all eight Arkansas charges, each could face up to eight years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

Kendra has hired attorney Travis Story, who has represented members of the Duggar family for years. Neither Kendra nor Joseph has publicly commented on the Arkansas charges.

The couple’s four children were temporarily placed off-limits to Kendra following her arrest, but that restriction was later lifted. Joseph remains prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 as part of his Florida case.