AceShowbiz -

Authorities has denied that Josh Duggar's molestation case was sealed. Springdale City Attorney Ernest Cate tells TMZ that the case file was never sealed because the police report wasn't filed until 2006, 4 years after the molestation started.

There was no basis for sealing the case because Josh was 18 years old when the police report was filed and he was an adult suspect. Ernest claims he got a Freedom of Information request from a media outlet and he was required to release it under the Freedom of Information act because it was a non-sealed case. The minor victims' names in the report were redacted.

Josh's parents Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar previously claimed during Fox News interview that the case was "sealed" and they were the real victims because the Arkansas Police Chief had an agenda in releasing the "sealed" case.

Jim Bob said, "We had no fears because everything was resolved and ...it was a sealed juvenile record and this stuff under law can't be brought out." Michelle added, "We trusted (the authorities) and our children poured out their hearts and then to have their trust betrayed and have everything turned over to a tabloid and twisted?"

Ernest, however, denies it, saying that the city followed the law in releasing the file.