James Dougherty of "Dougherty Dozen" Arrested on Public Lewdness Charge
A member of the "Dougherty Dozen," a large family known for their social media content, has been arrested and charged with public lewdness following an incident at a mall parking lot in upstate New York.
James William Dougherty, 19, of Rochester, was taken into custody by Ontario County Sheriff's deputies around 3:32 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, at Eastview Mall in the Town of Victor, New York. According to the Sheriff's Office, an investigation determined that Dougherty was inside his vehicle in the mall parking lot when he allegedly engaged in sexual activity while visible to the public.
Dougherty was charged with public lewdness and issued an appearance ticket rather than being held in custody. He is scheduled to answer the charge at a later date in Victor Town Court.
Reaction From the Family's Online Following
The Dougherty Dozen has built a substantial social media following documenting the family's day-to-day life, and news of James's arrest quickly spread across TikTok and other platforms where fans of the family regularly follow updates. Videos referencing the arrest, including commentary reportedly from his brother, Alex Dougherty, circulated widely following the news.
As with any pending criminal case, Dougherty is presumed innocent unless and until the charge is proven in court.
Who Are the Dougherty Dozen?
The Dougherty family, led by parents Alicia and Josh Dougherty of Pittsford, New York, rose to viral fame on TikTok during the pandemic, where Alicia's videos documenting daily life with a large household of biological, adopted and foster children quickly found an audience. The family now has more than 7 million followers on the platform.
Alicia has said the family's content began almost by accident, sparked by her kids' interest in the app before one of her own videos unexpectedly went viral. By 2022, she and Josh decided to turn the family's social media presence into a full-time career, and brand deals have since become a regular part of their income.
According to Alicia, James was adopted from foster care by the family in 2013, one of several adopted or fostered children the Doughertys have welcomed alongside their biological kids over the years. The family's content has often centered on the realities of raising a large household, including candid discussions about parenting children with additional needs, and has drawn both a large supportive following and, at times, public scrutiny and criticism online.
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