timothy busfield was defended forcefully by Melissa Gilbert in her first interview since New Mexico prosecutors charged him with child sexual contact offenses. In a preview of the conversation set to air Monday morning ET, Gilbert told George Stephanopoulos that she believes timothy busfield is “the last person in the world who would hurt a child. ” The remarks come as the case against the actor, who has pleaded not guilty, moves toward a trial currently expected in May 2027.
Melissa Gilbert calls the case “the most traumatizing experience”
Gilbert said the past few months have upended her family’s life, describing the period as “the most traumatizing experience of our lives. ” She said, “Our life as we knew it is done. We are grieving what we had. All of our plans, all of our dreams, all of our ideas, all of our projects. ”
She added that the fallout has been lasting and severe, saying that even if timothy busfield is exonerated, “he will always be that guy. ” Gilbert also said that if she believed for a second that he hurt a child, “he’d have a lot more to worry about than prison. ”
The charges and the court timeline
timothy busfield was indicted in February by a grand jury in New Mexico on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child. The charges stem from accusations involving conduct on the set of the TV drama “The Cleaning Lady, ” filmed in Albuquerque, where Busfield worked as a director and actor.
The criminal complaint says the allegations involve two children who said Busfield inappropriately touched them on set. Busfield turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico in January, was held without bond, and was later released on his own recognizance pending trial.
Busfield has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all four counts. His attorney, Larry Stein, has said the case is fundamentally unsound and that Busfield will fight the charges at every stage.
Immediate reaction from the defense and prosecutors
Stein said the grand jury’s decision was “not unexpected” and argued that the state’s evidence has serious gaps. “Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the State’s case in open court — where evidence matters — not behind closed doors, ” Stein said.
The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office said its focus remains on the victims and noted that a neutral grand jury indicted the defendant on four counts involving a child under 13. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is overseeing the prosecution.
How timothy busfield’s past has resurfaced
The filings in the case have also revived older allegations referenced in court records, including past accusations of misconduct in theater and film settings. Those earlier matters were handled differently, and the current criminal case is the one now scheduled to move ahead in court.
Melissa Gilbert and timothy busfield have been married since 2013, and Gilbert said publicly that she is speaking now because “It’s time. ” For now, the case remains centered on the indictment, the not-guilty plea, and the long runway to trial, with timothy busfield continuing to contest the charges while Gilbert stands beside him.
