At a Glance
- Timothy Busfield, 68, walked out of a New Mexico jail on Tuesday, Jan. 20, after a judge denied prosecutors’ request to keep him locked up.
- The actor faces two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor under 13 and one count of child abuse involving 11-year-old twins.
- Wife Melissa Gilbert, 61, wept in court and whispered “Thank you, God” when the release order came down.
Why it matters: The ruling allows Busfield to return home while prosecutors prepare their case, intensifying public scrutiny on both the judicial process and his celebrity supporters.
Timothy Busfield is out of custody and back with Melissa Gilbert after a two-hour detention hearing in Albuquerque ended with a judge releasing him on his own recognizance. The decision, handed down Jan. 20, came exactly one week after the West Wing actor surrendered to police on child sex-abuse charges.
The Release
Busfield left the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County shortly after the hearing concluded. He had spent seven nights behind bars following his Jan. 13 arrest on a warrant issued Jan. 9.
Conditions of release bar him from:
- Contact with the alleged victims or their families
- Unsupervised contact with any minor children
- Possessing firearms or dangerous weapons
- Consuming alcohol or illegal drugs
- Discussing the case with witnesses
He must also:
- Appear at every future court date
- Remain under Pretrial Services supervision in New Mexico
- Notify the court of his current address
Travel is permitted, but only within the oversight framework set by the court.
Inside the Courtroom
Gilbert, married to Busfield since April 2013, sat with her 89-year-old mother Barbara Cowan, son Michael Boxleitner, and Busfield’s brother Buck. When the judge announced Busfield would be freed, Gilbert cried and mouthed her gratitude.
Civil attorney Larry Stein, speaking exclusively to News Of Los Angeles, said the actor “feels wonderful” and is eager to reunite with his wife. “He can reunite with Melissa,” Stein added, noting Gilbert is “very, very excited.”
The Charges
Prosecutors charged Busfield with:
- Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13)
- One count of child abuse
The warrant alleges the conduct involved twin 11-year-old boys whose names have been withheld. Authorities have released no further details about the alleged incidents.
Gilbert’s Public Support
Since the warrant became public, Gilbert has stood by her husband. On the day charges were filed, her representative Ame Van Iden issued a statement: “Melissa stands with and supports her husband.”
Three days later, Gilbert joined 74 others in writing letters opposing the state’s motion to hold Busfield without bond. Her letter praised Busfield’s character and ended with the plea: “Please, please, take care of my sweet husband.”
Busfield’s Denial
Before surrendering, Busfield told TMZ in a video statement, “I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it.” His legal team repeated the denial in court and argued he poses no danger to the community.
Judge’s Reasoning
The judge cited Busfield’s voluntary surrender as evidence of compliance, stating, “This defendant self-surrendered and submitted himself to this court’s jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with the court order for his arrest.”
The court also found prosecutors had not met the legal burden to justify detention: “I cannot find that the state has proven by clear and convincing evidence that there are no release conditions that would reasonably protect the safety of any younger person in the community.”
Next Steps
Busfield’s case now moves toward trial. No trial date has been set. He must abide by all release conditions or risk being taken back into custody.
Anyone with information about child abuse can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential, and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
