Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield has been released from jail as he awaits trial on child sex abuse charges.
At the same time, new details about his life outside prison have emerged — and intimate revelations from his court-ordered evaluation is also coming to light.
What Busfield did on his first day of freedom
Timothy Busfield is a free man… at least for now. The West Wing actor was released Tuesday evening from a New Mexico jail, where he faces charges of child sexual abuse. After a stint in the Restrictive Housing Unit, a high-security section of the jail for inmates needing extra protection, Busfield walked out following a tense day in court.
His wife, Melissa Gilbert, was visibly emotional as Judge David Murphy announced the terms of his release.
”You’re authorized for release on your own recognizance with the conditions that you appear at all future court settings,” Judge Murphy said. ”You have not violated any laws.”
According to the Daily Mail, Busfield’s first day of freedom saw him trade his jail jumpsuit for a crisp pair of navy slacks before taking a relaxed trip to some grocery stores. He and his family are currently renting in Albuquerque — a far cry from his cell in the New Mexico jail, infamous for waking prisoners at 5 a.m. for breakfast.
Busfield appeared upbeat as he stepped out of a white Toyota 4Runner outside Villa de Rafael, the lavish Italian-style mansion his wife, Melissa Gilbert, has rented for $2,483 for three nights.
The stunning home features its own hot tub and a separate ‘casita’ in the backyard, while the main house includes “a spectacular stained-glass window dome and comfy beds made up with ‘high quality linens.’”
Melissa’s words
Despite the seriousness of the charges against Timothy Busfield, his wife, 61-year-old Melissa Gilbert, has chosen to stand by him. The Little House on the Prairie star had largely stayed out of the spotlight since news broke of Busfield’s child sex abuse allegations, but she broke her silence with a heartfelt letter to the judge ahead of his hearing.
”He is my comfort and my council. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life. Tim is, quite simply, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family,” she wrote.
The beloved actress was also involved in the investigation days before Busfield was remanded and held without bail on multiple counts.
Uncomfortable questions
According to Fox News, the 68-year-old actor underwent a psychosexual evaluation at his attorney’s recommendation. Court documents filed on Jan. 17 and obtained by Fox News reveal that Busfield participated in the assessment on Jan. 12 to determine his risk of committing sexual offenses compared with individuals previously convicted of such crimes.
During the evaluation, Busfield faced a series of personal and uncomfortable questions, including details about his intimate life with Gilbert.
“Mr. Busfield reports he and his current wife have a satisfying sex life and at their ages they simply enjoy one another’s company and cuddling more often than engaging in sexual intercourse,” the evaluation noted, according to the documents.
“Mr. Busfield’s wife confirms his statements about a satisfying sexual relationship between them.”
The report continued: “Mr. Busfield reports that as he reflects, he believes and values that an individual needs to have a certain level of maturity to understand and embrace the intimate nature of a sexual relationship. Additionally, he also believes sex is a natural experience for all humans and that at a certain age you begin to start experiencing feelings in your body (puberty). Mr. Busfield also reports that he has come to realize that he never had the mate he wanted until he met his wife, Melissa.”
Fox News legal analyst Donna Rotunno suggested that Busfield likely participated in the evaluation to show he is “not a threat to society.”
“When you submit to those evaluations, you have to answer truthfully. He is hoping that the evaluation will help the judge decide he is not a threat to society,” Rotunno explained.
“As uncomfortable as the subject matter is, it is common that they would interview the wife under the circumstances for corroboration, and to see how forthcoming and truthful he is being.”
The alleged assaults
Last week, Busfield was charged in New Mexico with sexually assaulting twin boys on the set of the TV series The Cleaning Lady between 2022 and 2024. In a video sent to TMZ while on his way to surrender, the 68-year-old Busfield said he was “devastated” by the claims.
One day later, an unrelated allegation also surfaced in a pretrial detention, accusing Busfield of abusing a 16-year-old girl during an audition for a show in Sacramento.
The victim claims that roughly 25 years ago, during her audition at B Street Theatre, Busfield “kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”
B Street Theatre was notified of the allegations, conducted an investigation, and subsequently banned the Emmy-winning actor from working with the institution, a spokesperson told People.
According to the court filing, after the alleged assault, Busfield’s wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, “begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy.” The motion also notes that the alleged victim’s father, who was a therapist, “thought at the time that was the best thing to do.”
Busfield continues to deny all the allegations and has vowed to fight the charges. His attorney, Larry Stein, also dismissed the claims involving the teenage girl as unrelated to the New Mexico case.
Melissa Gilbert’s representative, Ame Van Iden, released a statement on January 13, emphasizing that the actress will not “speak publicly while the legal process unfolds.”
