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Melissa Gilbert Issues First Public Statement as Timothy Busfield Awaits Trial

Gilbert thanks supporters, pledging to "ease back into things" during her husband's pretrial release under court-ordered restrictions.

Overview

  • Gilbert posted the message on Jan. 26 via her Modern Prairie Instagram, calling this an "extraordinarily difficult time" and expressing gratitude for public support.
  • Busfield was released from a New Mexico jail on Jan. 20 and must avoid contact with the alleged victims, have no unsupervised contact with minors, and refrain from firearms, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
  • Prosecutors charged Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse tied to two child actors from Fox's The Cleaning Lady; he surrendered Jan. 13 and has denied the allegations.
  • Ahead of the detention hearing, defense filings included 75 letters supporting Busfield, including one from Gilbert, who attended court and has continued to back her husband.
  • Court records also note a prosecution motion describing an uncharged Sacramento allegation involving a 16-year-old, and reporting indicates Busfield could face at least three years in state prison if convicted on the child-abuse counts.