Melissa Gilbert has vowed to stand by her husband Timothy Busfield after he surrendered himself to police on Tuesday over child sex abuse allegations.
Busfield turned himself in to police on January 13, four days after a warrant was issued for his arrest by the Albuquerque Police Department, over allegations that he had allegedly engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys on the set of The Cleaning Lady. He has always denied these claims.
While he is currently in custody awaiting a decision from prosecutors surrounding whether he will be detained until trial, his wife Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert issued a statement concerning his arrest.
Speaking via her rep, Gilbert confirmed that she would be ‘honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds.’
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She would, however, continue to stand by her husband and support her wider extended family, as the statement added: "During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment.”
"Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”
Busfield was formally charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, per the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office.
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Prosecutors are seeking to keep him detained in custody while he awaits trial.
"Timothy Busfield is currently in custody at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center," law enforcement officials said in a statement.
"He has been charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor (child under 13) and one count of Child Abuse."
"The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office intends to file a motion seeking to keep Mr. Busfield in custody while the case proceeds through the judicial process," the statement continues.
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"A judge will then determine whether Busfield remains detained or is released pending trial. The District Attorney’s Office routinely files pretrial detention motions in cases involving these types of charges."
Shortly before turning himself in, Busfield spoke out about the situation in a video shared widely online, in which he said: "I did not do anything wrong."
"Hi everybody, it's Tim," the video began. "I'm sure most of you know, that are watching this, that I was ordered to come to Albuquerque – I'm here now. I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer. Saturday I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I'm gonna confront these lies. They're horrible."
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He continued, "They're all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I'm gonna fight it. I'm gonna fight it with a great team, and I'm gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies."
"So hang in there and hopefully I'm out real soon and back to work,” he concluded. “I love everybody for supporting me, thank you."
UNILAD has previously reached out to Busfield's representatives for comment.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Phoebe Tonks