Melissa Gilbert Breaks Silence After Husband Timothy Busfield Charged With Child Sex Abuse

Melissa Gilbert has spoken publicly for the first time since her husband, Timothy Busfield, was charged with child sex abuse crimes in New Mexico.

In a statement shared Jan. 26 through her lifestyle company, Modern Prairie, Melissa Gilbert, 61, acknowledged what she described as an “extraordinarily difficult time” for herself, Busfield, and their family. Without addressing the allegations directly, Gilbert focused on gratitude, rest, and the support she says she has received from her community.

“This season has reminded me how important it is to slow down, prioritize what truly matters, and allow ourselves moments of rest,” she wrote, adding that stepping back from constant news and daily pressures can help people “recharge, reflect, and find our center again.”

Gilbert thanked supporters for their patience and kindness, saying the encouragement has helped her feel “safer, more grounded, and deeply held” by the women connected to Modern Prairie. She said she plans to ease back into work “thoughtfully and with care,” taking things one step at a time.

Busfield, 68, faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. He was released from custody on Jan. 20 in New Mexico and is awaiting trial. The charges stem from allegations that he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two 11-year-old boys. According to an arrest warrant, one of the minors alleged the incidents began when he was 7 years old.

The Albuquerque Police Department said the boys were child actors who met Busfield on the set of the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield worked as a director. The identities of the minors have not been made public.

Busfield turned himself in on Jan. 13 after an arrest warrant was issued days earlier. That same day, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced that formal charges had been filed, along with a motion seeking pretrial detention. Busfield has denied the allegations and previously proclaimed his innocence in a video, saying he plans to fight the charges.

Earlier this month, Gilbert’s representative said she would not be making public statements at the request of Busfield’s legal team and warned against online claims, including alleged AI-generated videos, that falsely suggested she had already spoken out. At the time, the statement said Gilbert was focused on supporting her family as the legal process unfolds.

Gilbert has publicly supported her husband throughout the case. She was among dozens of people who submitted letters to the judge ahead of Busfield’s pretrial detention hearing, describing him as her partner in life and business and asking that he be kept safe while in custody. She attended the hearing in New Mexico and was visibly emotional when the judge ruled that Busfield would be released with conditions while awaiting trial.

After his release, Busfield’s civil attorney told PEOPLE that the couple was still in shock and distressed but trying to move forward. “We’re taking one day at a time,” the lawyer said.

As the case proceeds, Gilbert has asked for patience and privacy, saying she plans to continue moving forward carefully while expressing ongoing gratitude to those who have shown support.