Melissa Gilbert Included on Witness List for Husband Timothy Busfield’s Upcoming Court Appearance Regarding Child Abuse Charges

Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield in 2022.
Credit:

Arturo Holmes/Getty

Key Facts

• Melissa Gilbert is named as a potential witness in her husband Timothy Busfield’s legal proceedings.
• Busfield is currently in custody in New Mexico, awaiting a pretrial detention hearing on January 20.
• Gilbert has requested the judge ensure Busfield’s safety while incarcerated.

Melissa Gilbert has been named as a potential witness in the case against her husband, Timothy Busfield, who faces charges related to alleged child sexual abuse.

On January 16, a new court filing detailed Busfield’s opposition to the state’s motion for pretrial detention, which included a witness list of 13 individuals, among them Gilbert.

Busfield appeared in court for the first time on January 14 in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. He is being held without bond and is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on January 20.

An arrest warrant for Busfield was issued on January 9 by the Albuquerque Police Department. He surrendered to authorities four days later and was formally charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. The accusations allege he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys, who were child actors he met while directing the FOX series The Cleaning Lady.

Timothy Busfield in 2020.

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Before his arrest, Busfield claimed in a video that he “did not do anything to those little boys.” He described his journey to confront the allegations as a drive of 2,000 miles to Albuquerque, stating, “I’m gonna fight it… I know I am… this is all so wrong and all lies.”

Background submissions included 75 support letters from family, friends, and colleagues, including one from Gilbert. In her letter, she described Busfield as her “love, my rock, my partner in business and life,” and a source of joy in her life. Gilbert emphasized their deep connection, asserting that Busfield possesses the strongest moral compass she has ever known.

Gilbert’s letter also reflected on Busfield’s relationships with others, highlighting that he is widely regarded as a favorite director and teacher among his peers and former students. She expressed profound gratitude for Busfield’s positive influence on her youngest son, Michael, who she noted received nurturing guidance from him.

In a surprising conclusion to her heartfelt letter, Gilbert acknowledged its unusual nature and appealed for Busfield’s safety, invoking her reliance on the judicial system during this challenging time.

Additionally, a pretrial motion filed on January 14 revealed another sexual abuse allegation made against Busfield, claiming he had previously abused a 16-year-old girl in Sacramento, California.

The motion also outlined allegations that Busfield had sought to dissuade the family from reporting the incident, contingent upon him receiving therapy. However, no charges had been filed at that time.

Following these revelations, Busfield’s attorney, Larry Stein, stated that the allegations were unproven and several decades old, stressing the lack of connection between this recent case and older accusations against him.

Officials continue to investigate this matter as Busfield awaits his pretrial hearing.

If you suspect child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453. All calls are confidential and available 24/7 in over 170 languages.