Melissa Gilbert Stands by Husband Timothy Busfield Amid Child Sex Abuse Charges

Melissa Gilbert is publicly standing by her husband, Timothy Busfield, as he faces serious criminal charges.

In a deeply personal letter submitted to the court, the 61-year-old actress expressed unwavering support for Busfield, who has been accused of child sexual abuse. The letter was included in a court filing dated Jan. 16, which contained 75 letters of support from family members, colleagues, and longtime friends, all opposing the state’s request for Busfield to be held in pretrial detention.

Gilbert, best known for her role on Little House on the Prairie, identified herself as Busfield’s wife and described their relationship, noting that while they first met briefly in the 1980s, they fell in love years later and married in 2012.

“The reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life,” Gilbert wrote. “He is my comfort and my counsel. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life. Tim is, quite simply, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family.”

She went on to say that she knows Busfield more intimately than anyone else and described him as a man with “the strongest moral compass” she has ever known. According to Gilbert, Busfield begins each day with kindness and compassion and has dedicated his life to serving others.

Gilbert also shared how frequently she hears praise for her husband from people he has worked with over the years. She said crew members, students, and even strangers in public places often tell her that Busfield was their favorite director or teacher.

“He is my favorite,” she added.

In the letter, Gilbert also reflected on Busfield’s relationship with her youngest son, Michael, who was a teenager when the couple began dating. She credited Busfield with guiding, supporting, and caring for her son during a difficult period in his life, calling his presence a blessing to their family.

She also noted that Busfield’s past military training reinforced the values he lives by — honor, integrity, compassion, and care for others.

As the letter concluded, Gilbert acknowledged the emotional toll the situation has taken on her.

“This is the strangest letter I’ve ever had to write,” she said, explaining that she struggled to balance logic with the overwhelming emotions she feels. She ended by asking the judge to “please, please, take care of my sweet husband,” saying that while Busfield has always been her protector, she now feels unable to protect him.

Busfield surrendered to police on Jan. 13 after a warrant was issued by the Albuquerque Police Department. He was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, related to allegations involving 11-year-old twin boys. He appeared in court on Jan. 14 and is currently being held without bond ahead of a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 20.

In a separate pretrial detention motion filed on Jan. 14, another allegation surfaced. A man named Colin Swift reported that Busfield allegedly sexually abused his teenage daughter years ago in Sacramento, California, while she was auditioning at the B Street Theatre. According to the filing, the girl was 16 at the time.

Busfield’s civil attorney, Larry Stein, responded by stating that the allegation is decades old and was never legally challenged or proven. He also said there is no clear connection between that accusation and the current charges involving young boys.

Before turning himself in, Busfield — who also appeared on The West Wing — recorded a video in which he denied all allegations and said he intends to fight the charges. He described the accusations as “horrible lies” and said he believes he will be exonerated.

Gilbert has not spoken publicly beyond the court letter. On Jan. 13, her representative released a statement saying she will remain silent while the legal process continues and is focused on supporting her family during this time.

“Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time,” the statement read. “We ask that their privacy be respected.”