Federal agents have raided the secluded upstate New York property of actor Timothy Busfield, who is facing serious child sex abuse charges. The 68-year-old, best known for his role in The West Wing, was arrested earlier this month.
The Arrest and Raid on a Remote Property
Timothy Busfield is charged with criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13 and one count of child abuse. The allegations stem from incidents twin boys claim occurred on the set of the television series The Cleaning Lady. Busfield has vehemently denied the accusations, labelling them "all lies," a stance echoed by his lawyer, Larry Stein.
Prior to his surrender to police in New Mexico, a task force of at least ten heavily armed officers from the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force descended on his Highland Lake cabin in an attempt to apprehend him. The raid brought intense scrutiny to the remote home he shares with his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert.
A 'Sad' and 'Stinky' Cabin Transformation
The couple purchased the 14-acre property in New York's Catskill Mountains in 2018 for $98,000. Gilbert, 61, famed for Little House on the Prairie, has openly described the shocking state they found it in. "It seemed like it was sort of sad," she said of the exterior.
Inside was worse. The seasonal hunting cabin was dilapidated and filled with an overwhelming, musty stench. The previous owners had left behind a bizarre array of belongings the couple had to clear themselves.
"There were boxes of cereal in the pantry, shampoo and bars of soap in the shower, and rotting deer heads on the walls," Gilbert recalled. She also noted discovering "bottles of holy water everywhere" and, hidden around the property, pornography and bottles of alcohol.
Despite the mess, the couple saw potential. They undertook a major renovation, installing a new boiler, propane tank, and plumbing. They moved in by Christmas 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, during which they lived there in isolation, keeping chickens and tending a garden.
Life on a Budget and the Legal Battle Ahead
In her 2022 memoir, Gilbert revealed that despite their fame, she and Busfield live frugally as "gig workers," managing bills and college loans. She dismissed assumptions about vast residuals from her iconic role, citing a recent cheque for just 20 cents.
Busfield is currently being held without bond. A representative for Melissa Gilbert stated she "is honoring the request of his lawyers not to speak publicly" and that her focus is on supporting their family. She did not attend his arraignment in Albuquerque on January 14th.
The actor is due back in court on January 20th, where a judge will rule on a prosecution motion to keep him in custody until trial. The legal process continues as the serious allegations against him are addressed.
