At a Glance
- Melissa Gilbert wrote to the judge overseeing husband Timothy Busfield’s case, asking for his “protection”
- Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse
- A pretrial detention hearing is scheduled for January 20
- Why it matters: The high-profile case pits public allegations against a celebrity spouse’s private plea for leniency
Melissa Gilbert is publicly defending her husband, actor-director Timothy Busfield, after he was charged with sexually abusing two 11-year-old boys. In a heartfelt letter to the court, the Little House on the Prairie alum urged the judge to “take care of my sweet husband,” underscoring her belief in his innocence as he remains jailed without bond.
Gilbert’s Emotional Letter to the Court
In a filing submitted January 16, Busfield’s legal team included 75 letters of support, among them a four-page note from Gilbert. She identifies herself as his wife since 2012 and recounts their decades-long connection that began when they first met in the 1980s.
She describes Busfield as “my love, my rock, my partner in business and life,” praising his “strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known.” Gilbert claims people routinely stop her to say he is their “favorite director ever” or “favorite teacher ever,” evidence she cites of his kindness and professionalism.
Detailing his role as a stepfather, Gilbert writes that nurturing her teenage son Michael became “one of the great joys of my life.” She credits Busfield with guiding the boy through adolescence, adding he “fed my son both physically and spiritually.”
She closes with a direct appeal: “Please, please, take care of my sweet husband. As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now.”
Charges and Allegations
Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police on January 13 after a warrant accused him of unlawful sexual conduct with twin boys. Prosecutors charged him with:
- Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor
- One count of child abuse
A pretrial detention motion filed January 14 revealed an additional claim. Colin Swift told law enforcement that Busfield allegedly assaulted Swift’s 16-year-old daughter “several years ago” in Sacramento. The motion states that while the teen was auditioning for him at B Street Theatre, Busfield kissed her and touched her intimately.
According to the filing, Busfield “begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy.” Swift, himself a therapist, initially agreed. No charges arose from that incident.
Court Proceedings
Busfield made his first appearance January 14 and was ordered held without bond. His defense argues the 25-year-old accusation is unproven and unrelated to the current case involving the boys.
Civil attorney Larry Stein told News Of Losangeles: “The allegations were never challenged, they were never proved, and they’re 25 years old. There doesn’t seem to be any connection between these allegations regarding women 25 years ago and the allegations regarding these young boys.”
The actor’s next court date is the pretrial detention hearing set for January 20.
Maintaining Innocence
Before surrendering, Busfield recorded a video obtained by TMZ. In it he insists he “did not do anything to those little boys” and vows to fight the charges.
“Hi everybody, it’s Tim,” the clip begins. “I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies … I’m gonna be exonerated, I know I am.”
Family Support and Privacy Request
Gilbert’s representative, Ame Van Iden, issued a January 13 statement emphasizing the actress will not speak publicly while the case proceeds. The statement says her priority is “supporting and caring for their very large family” and asks for privacy.
The couple wed in 2012 and have frequently appeared together at industry events, most recently at the 62nd Monte Carlo TV Festival in June 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Timothy Busfield remains in custody on multiple child-sex-related charges
- Melissa Gilbert submitted a personal plea to the court portraying him as a moral, compassionate man
- An additional decades-old allegation surfaced in pretrial documents, though no related charges were filed
- Busfield’s legal team contends the claims are false and unconnected
- A judge will decide during the January 20 hearing whether he will remain detained pending trial
