Timothy Busfield is seen returning to his post-release hideaway after a shopping spree as wife Melissa Gilbert wears pajamas at his $2.5K-a-night villa

Timothy Busfield’s first day of freedom included swapping his prison jumpsuit for a pair of stylish navy blue trousers and a leisurely trip to Citarella and Trader Joe’s, the Daily Mail makes clear.

Busfield, 68, was released from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday after a week-long stay.

After the now-beautified actor surrendered to Albuquerque cops on January 13 on child molestation charges, he was placed in the Restrictive Housing Unit, a special section of the prison reserved for inmates who need extra protection.

Photos captured exclusively by the Daily Mail show the embattled actor with his family outside the luxury AirBNB they are currently renting in Albuquerque; This is a far cry from his cell in New Mexico, where he woke inmates for breakfast at 5 a.m.

Busfield looked cheerful as he stepped out of a white Toyota 4Runner SUV in front of Villa de Rafael, the lavish Italianate mansion that his wife, Melissa Gilbert, rented for $2,483 for three nights.

Boasting its own warm massage, the stunning pad features a standalone ‘casita’ in the backyard, while the main house is complete with a gorgeous stained-glass window dome and cozy beds made from ‘high-quality linens’.

Busfield spent his first night of freedom at a sprawling Italianate-style mansion in New Mexico called Villa de Rafael, the Daily Mail has revealed.

Busfield’s wife, Melissa Gilbert, was seen taking out the trash on the property in her pajamas early Wednesday morning.

There is also a gas barbecue, a large library and a fully stocked games room for guests to enjoy.

Busfield’s wife, Melissa Gilbert, who was seen shedding tears of joy after Judge David Murphy chose to release her husband, was seen taking out the trash at the property in her pajamas in the early hours of Wednesday.

Despite the seriousness of the charges against Busfield, Gilbert, 61, chose to stand by her man, arriving at court in Albuquerque on Tuesday with a group of attorneys in tow.

The Little House on the Prairie star has been keeping a low profile ever since it was revealed Busfield was wanted on child sex charges, but she broke her silence with an impassioned letter to the judge ahead of the hearing.

The thrice-married star told Judge Murphy: ‘The truth is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my business and life partner.

‘He is my consolation and my council. His cheerfulness, sense of humor and quick wit add sparkle to my life. Tim is simply the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family.’

Busfield looked cheerful as he stepped out of a white Toyota 4Runner SUV in front of Villa de Rafael, the lavish Italianate mansion that his wife, Melissa Gilbert, rented for $2,483 for three nights.

Set on an acre of landscaped gardens, the six-bedroom property rents for $2,483 for a minimum three-night stay and has seven bathrooms and a spa tub.

Gilbert had written an impassioned letter to the judge ahead of his parole hearing, calling Busfield his “rock” and “protector.”

‘I can tell you and everyone else that I know Tim better and more intimately than anyone else in his life. On the contrary, he knows me the same way.

‘Tim has the strongest moral compass of anyone I know. He has always devoted his spiritual self to serving others.

‘He starts each day with kindness and compassion.’

He added: ‘I’m trying to pull [sic] The line between logic and all the emotions swirling inside me.

‘I started this letter with logic, but now emotions have taken over. I can’t help it. I just want this extraordinary man to be safe and whole.

‘Then I will finish by asking you to please, please take care of my sweet husband. ‘I am his as he is my protector, but I can’t protect him now and I think that’s what really breaks my heart, more than anything, I trust you to protect him for me.’

Busfield’s wife and Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert was seen crying with joy in court as her husband was released on his own recognizance Tuesday.

A stern-faced Melissa Gilbert walked into her husband’s pretrial hearing on Tuesday, arriving almost an hour before the hearing was set to begin.

Following the hearing, where the prosecution sought to keep Busfield on the case on the grounds that he posed a danger to the public, a patterned-dressed Gilbert took the opportunity to thank the public for the ‘flashy support’ she said her third husband had received.

This support stood in stark contrast to his defense’s claim that the harassment charges had led to him being ‘canceled’ and that, as a result, he was no longer in power as the prosecution claimed.

So far the case has produced a number of embarrassing headlines for Busfield, and other alleged victims have come forward to confirm what the prosecution says is a “pattern of inappropriate touching.”

Embarrassingly for Gilbert and Busfield, details of their sex lives were shared in court documents submitted ahead of a release hearing as part of a sex offender risk assessment.

The documents contained his answers to a series of disturbing questions and stated: ‘Mr. Busfield reports that he and his current wife have a satisfactory sexual life and that they enjoy each other’s companionship and cuddling more than sexual intercourse at this age.’

He added: ‘Mr Busfield’s wife confirms his statements that there was a satisfactory sexual relationship between them.’

The accusations against her husband come two months after Gilbert gushed about their relationship in a November 2025 post from upstate New York, not far from where Gilbert owns the chalet.

The actor and director surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after controversy began online earlier this month.

News of Busfield’s legal troubles first emerged on January 9, when the Albuquerque Police Department issued an arrest warrant amid allegations that he molested twin 11-year-old boys during the filming of The Cleaning Lady.

Busfield, who denied the charges against him, then disappeared for several days; but on January 13, he resurfaced in New Mexico, where he surrendered by driving 2,000 miles from his cabin in upstate New York.

He was formally charged the same day and made his first appearance on January 14, appearing grumpy in an orange prison jumpsuit as the counts were read.

Busfield denied all the charges against him and told TMZ in a video posted to his website as he was about to turn himself in that he was “devastated” by the allegations.

While Gilbert also made clear that she did not believe her husband did anything wrong, the defense at Tuesday’s hearing made clear that they believed the case was a trial after the children’s services were no longer needed on the set.