Melissa Gilbert has publicly defended her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, in her first interview since he was charged with child sexual abuse in New Mexico. Speaking to ABC's George Stephanopoulos, the former Little House on the Prairie star described Busfield as 'the last person in the world who would hurt a child'.
Busfield, 68, faces four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child following a grand jury indictment in Albuquerque. The charges relate to alleged incidents on the set of the TV drama The Cleaning Lady between November 2022 and spring 2024. A criminal complaint accuses him of inappropriately touching a boy over his clothing when the child was seven and again at age eight. The boy's twin brother also reported being touched by Busfield.
Busfield has pleaded not guilty and dismissed the allegations as 'all lies' in a statement to TMZ. However, prosecutors have highlighted a pattern of alleged sexual misconduct. Court filings detail a previous allegation that Busfield groped a 16-year-old girl during an audition at Sacramento's B Street Theatre, which he co-founded. That matter concluded with Busfield attending therapy and the girl's family agreeing not to involve police.
In 1994, a 17-year-old extra on the film Little Big League claimed Busfield assaulted her after serving her alcohol. Busfield maintained he was being extorted and settled the allegations privately, but was ordered to pay $150,000 in costs after an unsuccessful argument that the claims were fabricated. A 28-year-old woman also alleged in 2012 that Busfield fondled her at a Los Angeles cinema. Busfield said the act was consensual, and no criminal or civil case was brought.
Gilbert, who married Busfield in 2013, described the situation as 'the most traumatizing experience of our lives'. She said their life 'as we knew it is done', adding that even if exonerated, Busfield 'will always be that guy'. Gilbert had previously issued a statement supporting her husband but avoided speaking publicly. She told Stephanopoulos she was now speaking out because 'it's time'. Busfield is due to stand trial in May 2027 and is currently free pending proceedings.
