Melissa Gilbert, known for her role on Little House on the Prairie, has publicly defended her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, following his indictment on child sexual abuse charges in New Mexico. In an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Gilbert described Busfield as 'the last person in the world who would hurt a child'. She expressed that the allegations have been 'the most traumatizing experience of our lives', adding that even if exonerated, Busfield's reputation is irreparably damaged.
Busfield, 68, faces four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, stemming from alleged incidents between November 2022 and spring 2024 on the set of the TV drama The Cleaning Lady, where he worked as a director and actor. The charges involve inappropriate touching of a seven-year-old boy and his twin brother. Busfield has pleaded not guilty and dismissed the accusations as 'all lies' in a statement to TMZ.
Prosecutors have highlighted a pattern of sexual misconduct allegations against Busfield, including a 1994 incident involving a 17-year-old extra on the film Little Big League, which he settled privately, and a 2012 allegation of fondling at a Los Angeles movie theatre, which did not lead to charges. A separate allegation from the 1990s involving a 16-year-old girl at Sacramento's B Street Theatre was resolved with Busfield attending therapy.
Gilbert, who married Busfield in 2013, had previously refrained from speaking publicly on legal advice. She stated that the couple's life 'as we knew it is done' and that Busfield is 'canceled'. Busfield is scheduled for trial in May 2027 and is currently out of custody pending proceedings.
