Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar -- Covered Up Molestation

Josh Duggar's parents knew he repeatedly molested his five-year-old sister but failed to notify authorities for at least 16 months ... this according to a just-released police report.

According to the report, obtained by In Touch, Josh confessed to Jim Bob on 3 separate occasions that he molested at least one sister. Here's the worst part ... after the first confession, Jim Bob did nothing and the molestations continued. And after the second confession, Jim Bob again did nothing to notify authorities or even get him help and again the molestations continued.

After the third confession, Josh's parents enrolled him in a treatment program, but they did not notify authorities until at least 4 months after the last confession. And get this ... the delay was at least 16 months after Josh's first confession.

Put another way, had Jim Bob and Michelle notified authorities immediately after Josh's first confession, they might have taken action that would have prevented the subsequent molestations.

It's possible the Duggar parents could have been prosecuted for permitting abuse of a minor, but the statute of limitations has long since passed.

TLC still hasn't announced the fate of "19 Kids and Counting," but now that there's evidence the parents may have covered up the crime, it's going to be hard for TLC to keep the show afloat.