Actress Melissa Gilbert has publicly defended her husband, Timothy Busfield, amid ongoing child sex abuse allegations against him. Gilbert, known for her role in 'Little House on the Prairie,' stated in an interview with ABC News that she trusts Busfield 'with my children’s lives, my grandchildren’s lives, my nieces and nephews.' She emphasized that she knew about past allegations before marrying him in 2013 and believes he will be exonerated at trial next year.
Busfield, a 68-year-old actor and director, was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury in February on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child. The charges stem from allegations that he inappropriately touched two child actors, who are brothers, during his work on the Fox crime drama 'The Cleaning Lady.' One of the boys alleged that Busfield touched his 'private areas' multiple times when he was 7 and 8 years old. Busfield has denied the accusations and was released on his own recognizance in January.
Gilbert described the allegations as 'hell' and the most traumatizing experience of their lives. She insisted that Busfield is 'nothing if not completely honest' with her and that he is an 'honorable, caring, generous human being.' She also mentioned that Busfield suggested the boys’ mother might have sought 'revenge' for not bringing her children back for the final season of 'The Cleaning Lady.'
Busfield’s lawyer, Larry Stein, criticized the indictment, calling it 'fundamentally unsound' and stating that it 'cannot be proven at trial.' The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has not responded to requests for comment. Gilbert’s defense of Busfield comes as she is also named on the witness list in the case.