A day after Josh Duggar was named by police as an alleged offender in a sexual molestation case, the reality star and his family have issued a statement. In response to this heinous scandal, they are not denying the charges. “Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,” Josh tells People . “I hurt others, including my family and close friends … I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation.” “We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling.” “I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life,” added Josh, who did not elaborate on what the road entailed. TMZ was a lot less vague today, reporting that a decade ago, Duggar was investigated for multiple counts of sexual molestation as a teenager. Sources told police he fondled the genitals of five girls back in 2002. Included among the molestation victims were Josh’s own sisters . View Slideshow: Josh and Anna Duggar Photos: Through the Years Duggar has now resigned from his position at the Family Research Council as a result of the accusations becoming a matter of public record. Jim Bob and Michelle, in their own statement, acknowledged having gone through “one of the most difficult times” of their lives 12 years ago. “When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked,” the patriarch and matriarch said Thursday. “We had tried to teach him right from wrong,” they said, in the aftermath. “That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.” Jim Bob Duggar turned him in , reportedly to local church members who agreed that Josh should be put in some kind of treatment program. It remains unclear just what this entailed. For her part, Josh’s wife and the mother of his three children, Anna, says her husband told her about his ugly past two years before he proposed. View Slideshow: 21 Biggest Duggar Family Scandals “[I know] who Josh really is … someone who had gone down a wrong path and had humbled himself before God and those whom he had offended,” she says. Someone, she adds of the oldest of 19 Duggar siblings, “who had received the help needed to change the direction of his life and do what is right.” The statute of limitations has expired so Josh Duggar will not be prosecuted. But you can bet public pressure will be applied to fire his entire family. Will TLC cancel 19 Kids and Counting in the wake of this scandal? All we can do is stay tuned there, but Josh, 27, insists he is a changed man. “I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions,” says Josh. “I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged.” “I 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.” Think he’ll get it? From a higher power and/or TLC viewers? View Slideshow: 17 Controversial Duggar Family Quotes
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Josh Duggar Admits to Acting "Inexcusably," Apologizes for Alleged Molestation
