Jana Duggar Charged With Child Endangerment: Everything to Know

Credit: Courtesy of Jana Duggar/Intagram

Jana Duggar Charged With Child Endangerment: Everything to Know

While facing more severe consequences, Josh Duggar isn’t the only member of the controversial family in trouble with the law. Jana Duggar has been charged with child endangerment following a September babysitting incident. Jana, the eldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children, was featured on the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting and its spinoff, Counting On. In addition to her twin brother, John-David, she has 17 siblings: Josh, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace and Josie. While she may be the second oldest in a family that tends to get married young, Jana is single. "I feel like these days, probably one of the most common questions is, ‘Am I in a relationship?’” she said during a September 2020 episode of their former reality show. "Sometimes it gets a little old. I'm like 'No, I'm not, no I don't have anyone.' And usually, I'm just like 'OK, I'll just answer it and go on and that's it.' Sometimes it can get a little like, 'What, that's not the only thing in the world to talk about.'" She added at the time: "Most of my siblings have gotten married really young. Some people are like, 'Are you picky?' I'm like, 'I don't think so.'" [jwplayer 9IccqJsn-zhNYySv2] TLC officially cut ties with the Duggars after Josh, who no longer appeared on Counting On, was arrested for possession of child pornography in June 2021. (He was found guilty in December 2021 and is awaiting sentencing.) That doesn’t stop the famous family from making headlines, however, as Jana came under fire amid Josh’s trial. The same month that Josh was convicted, news broke that Jana was facing child endangerment allegations related to an incident three months prior. “I was babysitting a few months ago when one of the children wandered outside alone,” Jana said via a social media statement. “A passerby who saw the child called the police. This resulted in a written citation, as well as a follow-up with child welfare who concluded that it was an accident and the child was unharmed.” Scroll through for more on Jana’s case:

Credit: TLC

Jana’s Story

It’s not public knowledge whose children Jana was babysitting when one of the kids “wandered” outside alone. According to the former reality star, police “recognized [the situation] was a case of a child slipping out of the house when you turn your back for a moment.”

She explained: “It all happened so quickly and was scary. I am grateful for law enforcement and those who protect and serve our community. I was certainly never arrested like some may have implied. In the end I was just upset at myself that it had happened at all, but so thankful it all ended safely and that’s truly what mattered the most to me.”

Credit: Courtesy of Jana Duggar/Intagram

The Charge

According to the Elm Springs District Country Clerk, Jana was not arrested but rather charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in September 2021 in Arkansas. The misdemeanor could result in paying fines or spending up to 90 days in jail.

Credit: Courtesy of Jana Duggar/Intagram

The Plea

Jana pleaded not guilty via her attorney in September 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Jana Duggar/Instagram

The Family’s Defense

Several of Jana’s family members have come to her defense, including her sister Jessa Duggar, who said her sibling made an “innocent mistake.”

“She was babysitting and one of the kids slipped out the door unnoticed, but it ended safely. Could’ve happened to anyone,” Jessa, who has four kids, wrote via Instagram Stories in December 2021. “She’s without question one of the most amazing women I know and I’d trust her with my kids any day of the week. Do me a favor — give the girl a break, and all you perfect humans go back to living your lives.”

Her cousin Amy King (née Duggar) also showed support. “I will call out what is right and I will call out what is wrong,” she wrote in December 2021 via Instagram. “This couldn’t have been intentional. Thank God the child was OK and found! I bet you were exhausted, stressed and just emotionally worn out. Watching multiple kids is hard! Bc there’s so many of them and you only have two eyes!! It’s a very sad situation going on and my heart goes out to @janamduggar love you.”

Credit: Courtesy Jana Duggar/Instagram

No Court Date Needed

While the case was set to go to trial on January 10, it was instead settled outside of court, the county clerk confirmed to Us on January 4.

Credit: TLC

A Guilty Plea

The Growing Up Duggar coauthor changed her plea to guilty in December 2021 and was ordered to pay $880 in fees, Us confirmed. The case has since been settled.