Actress Melissa Gilbert has described feeling trapped in a "nightmare" following a series of serious criminal allegations against her husband of twelve years, actor and director Timothy Busfield.
The Allegations and Arrest
Timothy Busfield, 68, surrendered himself to authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 13. He was booked in connection with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The allegations, which Busfield denies, reportedly involve two child actors, aged seven and eight, and stem from his work as a producer and director on the television series The Cleaning Lady, filmed in New Mexico.
A source close to Gilbert, 61, told People magazine that the Little House on the Prairie star is "very concerned about Tim in jail" as he is being held at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. "She wants him out so he's safe," the source said, citing safety issue complaints at the facility.
Gilbert's Plea to the Court
Gilbert has remained focused on securing her husband's release ahead of trial. She penned a heartfelt letter to the court, submitted on Friday, passionately defending his character. "The reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life," she wrote. "He is my comfort and my council. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life."
She described him as "the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family" and asserted that he possesses "the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known." Gilbert closed her emotional appeal by writing, "I am relying on you to protect him for me."
Despite her advocacy, a judge ordered Busfield to be held with no bond during a hearing last Wednesday. A pretrial detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, where a judge was to rule on whether Busfield could be released and under what conditions.
Professional Repercussions and Legal Defence
The fallout from the arrest has been swift. Busfield will be digitally edited out of the forthcoming Amazon MGM film You Deserve Each Other, in which he played a supporting role. Producers of the completed romantic comedy, which stars Penn Badgley and Justin Long, have opted for digital removal rather than reshoots.
According to reports from TMZ, Busfield's legal team has argued that the allegations were fabricated by the parents of the child actors, Angele LaSalle and Ronald Rodis, as revenge after their sons were replaced on The Cleaning Lady two years ago. His attorneys cited an independent investigation casting doubt on the claims and stated Busfield has passed polygraph tests.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman stated that if convicted on all counts, Busfield could face up to 15 years in custody. The charges are expected to be formally announced following the pretrial detention process.
Gilbert, famed for playing Laura Ingalls Wilder, is reportedly in New Mexico where the legal case is unfolding, determined to support her husband through what she calls an unimaginable ordeal.
