Timothy Busfield’s wife listed as defense witness in child sex abuse case
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As Timothy Busfield faces accusations of child sexual abuse, Melissa Gilbert stands firmly by her husband’s side.
The “Little House on the Prairie” star, 61, is listed as a potential defense witness for Busfield, according to a court filing obtained by Fox News Digital on Friday.
The document includes Busfield’s response opposing the state’s request for pretrial detention and lists the names of 13 people the defense may call, including Gilbert.
TIMOTHY BUSFIELD WAS HELD BEHIND IN CHILD GENDER ABUSE CASE IN NEW MEXICO
“Little House on the Prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert continues to support her husband Timothy Busfield. (Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
In addition to being named as a potential witness, Gilbert submitted a letter to the judge voicing her support for her husband. The file contains 75 letters written in Busfield’s name, most from family members and colleagues.
In her letter, Gilbert referred to herself as Busfield’s wife and outlined the history of their relationship, writing that the two first crossed paths in the 1980s and met again decades later. He stated that they fell in love with each other in 2012.
“The truth is Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life. He is my solace and advice. His joy, sense of humor, and quick wit bring sparkle to my life. Tim is the beating heart of our simply wild and wonderful extended family,” she wrote.
TIMOTHY BUSFIELD’S LIE DETECTOR OFFER IS A ‘PUBLIC RELATIONS INDICATOR’ WHEN FACED BY CHILD GENDER ABUSE ADMINISTRATION: EXPERT
Gilbert told the court he knew Busfield “better and more intimately than anyone in his life”, describing him as a man guided by principles and compassion.
“Tim has the strongest moral compass of any person I have ever met,” he wrote. “He always devoted his spiritual self to serving others. He began each day with kindness and compassion.”
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield got married in 2013. (Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images)
He also noted Busfield’s consistently positive reputation in the entertainment industry, saying he has been repeatedly approached by people willing to share their experiences working with him.
Gilbert wrote that “on every set Tim worked on,” “many people” told him he was “their favorite director ever.” He added that similar comments came from strangers “in restaurants, on red carpets and in grocery stores.”
Gilbert also noted Busfield’s relationship with his youngest son, Michael, describing his role in the teenager’s life as extremely meaningful.
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“Tim nurtured and guided Michael,” she wrote. “He warned, praised, loved, comforted, cajoled, worried, cared for, and nurtured my son both physically and spiritually.”
Timothy Busfield appeared Wednesday via Zoom in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque, NM. The actor is being held without bail on charges of sexual abuse of a child. (Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court)
He credited Busfield’s military background with shaping his values, which he said strengthened his resolve for “dignity, integrity, compassion and care for his fellow men.”
Concluding the letter, Gilbert admitted how difficult and emotional it was to address the court.
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“This is the strangest letter I have ever had to write,” he wrote. “So I’ll finish by asking you to please, please take care of my sweet husband,” Gilbert continued. “I’m his because he’s 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.”
An arrest warrant was issued for the director and Emmy award-winning actor on January 9, and was reached by Fox News Digital.
Timothy Busfield in prison booking photo. (Bernalillo County Detention Center)
The police investigation into the allegations against Busfield began on November 1, 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted officers to a case of alleged sexual abuse.
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According to an arrest warrant obtained by Fox News Digital, two 11-year-old twins claim that the director, who they were told to call Uncle Tim, touched them inappropriately on the set of the movie “Cleaning Lady.”
Busfield made his first court appearance in Bernalillo County on Jan. 14. He is being held without bail and is being held in custody ahead of a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 20.
Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
