At a Glance
- Barbara Cowan, 89, wrote to the judge praising son-in-law Timothy Busfield
- Busfield, 68, faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse
- Alleged incidents involve 11-year-old twin boys while he directed The Cleaning Lady
- Why it matters: Family support could influence public perception as the case heads to a Jan. 20 detention hearing
Barbara Cowan, mother of actress Melissa Gilbert, has submitted a glowing character letter for her son-in-law Timothy Busfield after the actor was charged with child sex abuse in New Mexico.
The Charges
Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police on Tuesday, January 13, and was charged with:
- Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor
- One count of child abuse
The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred while Busfield worked as a director on the Fox series The Cleaning Lady. Court documents identify the alleged victims as 11-year-old twin boys. A pretrial detention motion filed Wednesday, January 14, also references an unrelated sexual abuse allegation.
Busfield’s civil attorney, Larry Stein, told News Of Losangeles in a statement that the actor is “absolutely shocked” by the “false” claim.
“He’s devastated and will defend himself, because these are absolutely false allegations,” Stein added.
In a short video obtained by TMZ, Busfield vowed to “confront these lies” and “fight.”
Family Support
Cowan, 89, joined her daughter and several of Busfield’s friends and relatives in writing to the judge overseeing the case. In the letter, obtained by News Of Losangeles, she called Busfield a “shining human” and said she “could not love & respect him more if I had carried him as my own.”
> “I am sorry for anyone who has not been graced with his love, generosity, kindness, playfulness, caring, teachings, availability, strength, and on & on,” she wrote.
Cowan emphasized her protective instincts as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, saying she would “trust all” of her descendants with Busfield today. She praised his service to country, community, family, and friends, and declared, “From day one he was my real son.”
> “The world is a better place with Timothy Busfield in it,” she concluded.
Gilbert Family Background
Melissa Gilbert, 61, was adopted by Barbara and Paul Gilbert in May 1964. Her brother, Jonathan Gilbert, was adopted two years later and also appeared on Little House on the Prairie as Willie Oleson.
After Barbara and Paul divorced, Barbara welcomed daughter Sara Gilbert (later of Roseanne fame) with second husband Harold Abeles in January 1975.
All three siblings began acting young, but Jonathan quit at 18. Melissa rose to fame as Laura Ingalls Wilder, while Sara became known as Darlene Conner.
Next Steps
Busfield remains free pending a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for Monday, January 20.
Key Takeaways
- The West Wing alum faces serious felony charges tied to alleged on-set conduct
- His mother-in-law’s letter frames him as a beloved family figure
- Legal team denies all allegations and promises a vigorous defense
- A judge will soon decide whether Busfield stays free while the case proceeds
