At a Glance
- Melissa Gilbert submitted a character letter praising Timothy Busfield’s parenting as he faces child sex abuse charges
- Stepson Michael Boxleitner also wrote the judge, calling Busfield his “hero” and saying he “shown up for me as a father” more than his biological dad
- Busfield, 68, was charged on January 13 with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse tied to alleged incidents on the set of The Cleaning Lady
- Why it matters: The letters offer the first public defense from Busfield’s family as he remains held without bond ahead of a January 20 pretrial detention hearing
Melissa Gilbert is publicly standing by her husband, Timothy Busfield, after the actor was charged with child sex abuse crimes in New Mexico. In a character letter submitted to the court, the 61-year-old actress focused on Busfield’s role as stepfather to her youngest son, Michael Boxleitner, rather than addressing the specific allegations.
Character Letters Paint Devoted Stepfather
According to News Of Losangeles, the letter was part of a court filing obtained on January 17, four days after Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police. Gilbert wrote that watching Busfield interact with her son has been “one of the great joys of my life.”
She recalled that Michael was “a full-blown, angst-ridden teenager trying to figure out his place in the world” when she and Busfield began their relationship in 2012. Over the years, she said, Busfield “nurtured and guided” the boy, adding:
- He admonished, praised, loved, consoled, cajoled, fretted, cared for, and fed my son both physically and spiritually
- He became the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family
- His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life
Gilbert told the judge she would “never be able to express the depth of gratitude” she feels toward Busfield, calling him her “rock” and “partner in business and life.” She concluded that she has known him “better and more intimately than anything in his life ever has.”
Stepson Praises Busfield as “Hero”
Michael Boxleitner, now 30, submitted his own letter on Busfield’s behalf. He stated that his stepfather has “shown up for me as a father” more than his biological dad ever did.
Boxleitner described Busfield as:
- Kind and thoughtful
- Carrying himself with stalwart integrity
- His personal hero
The letters were filed as Busfield faces multiple charges stemming from alleged misconduct on the set of Fox’s The Cleaning Lady. Prosecutors claim the incidents involved 11-year-old twin boys. An unrelated allegation of sexual abuse was also mentioned in a pretrial detention motion filed January 14.
Charges and Court Timeline
Busfield was formally charged on January 13 and is being held without bond. His next court date is a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for January 20. Gilbert is listed as a potential witness in the case.
Larry Stein, Busfield’s civil attorney, told News Of Losangeles in a statement that the actor is “absolutely shocked” at what Stein called a “false” allegation.
“He’s devastated and will defend himself, because these are absolutely false allegations,” Stein said.
In a brief video obtained by TMZ, Busfield vowed to “confront these lies” and pledged to “fight” the charges.
Family Background
Gilbert has two sons:
- Michael Boxleitner, 30, with ex-husband Bruce Boxleitner
- Dakota Brinkman, from her first marriage to Bo Brinkman
She married Busfield in 2013, one year after they began dating. The couple has worked together on various projects and frequently speak of their blended family in interviews.
Key Takeaways
- Both Melissa Gilbert and her son Michael Boxleitner submitted heartfelt letters to the judge overseeing Busfield’s case
- The letters focus on Busfield’s parenting, not on the specific charges he faces
- Busfield denies all allegations and remains in custody pending next week’s hearing
- Prosecutors allege the incidents occurred while Busfield directed The Cleaning Lady
