Actress Melissa Gilbert appeared in court on January 20, 2026, to support her husband, actor Timothy Busfield as he faces allegations of sexual abuse. Gilbert, who appears on the Hallmark series “When Calls the Heart,” was photographed in a New Mexico courtroom for Busfield’s pretrial detention hearing.
As the hearing proceeded, The Mirror reported that Gilbert cried tears of joy to learn that Busfield would be released from jail while awaiting trial.
Melissa Gilbert Attended Hearing With Goal of Getting Husband Timothy Busfield Released From Jail
GettyAccording to People, Busfield had a pretrial detention hearing at the courthouse in the New Mexico county of Bernalillo. Gilbert, 61, was surrounded by loved ones as she showed her support for her husband of 12 years.
Barbara Cowan, Gilbert’s mother, was in court in New Mexico to support her,. One of Gilbert’s sons, Michael Boxleitner, also attended. In addition, Buck Busfield, Timothy Busfield’s brother, attended.
Melissa Gilbert appears in court in New Mexico for a hearing for her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield.
Gilbert’s appearance comes shortly after People shared new details about how the “When Calls the Heart” star is holding up. An insider told the media outlet that Gilbert’s “Focus is to try to get him out this week.”
The insider described the situation as a “nightmare for Melissa,” who is “very concerned about Tim in jail.”
“She wants him out so he’s safe,” the source for People added. The insider referenced prior complaints regarding the jail where Busfield was being held.
Gilbert & Busfield Received Good News in Court
Melissa Gilbert and loved ones smile after the court hearing for her husband Timothy Busfield.
The January 20 hearing was Busfield’s second. He previously appeared in court on January 14. During that hearing, he learned he would remain in custody until at least the January 20 hearing.
According to TMZ, the judge in New Mexico ruled that Busfield would no longer need to remain in jail while waiting for his trial.
Gilbert previously wrote a letter to the judge who is overseeing the hearings thus far. The letter, People indicated, was part of the response submitted by Busfield’s legal team opposing the ongoing pretrial detention requested by prosecutors.
Melissa Gilbert smiles in relief and joy after Timothy Busfield was released from jail.
In part, Gilbert wrote, “Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life. He is my comfort and my council. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life.”
She also wrote, “I know Tim better and more intimately than anything in his life ever has…Tim has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known.”
“He starts every day with kindness and compassion,” Gilbert added.
According to Fox News, Gilbert was one of dozens who wrote letters to the judge on Busfield’s behalf. In total, the media outlet reported, Busfield’s legal team submitted 87 letters of support.
Wow…i used to like Melissa but to support a sex abuser just sickening and should be locked up with him! Sick sick sick
What happened to innocent until
Proven guilty. If he is innocent it won’t matter.
👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
👍
Why, did he abuse you??
As a survivor of child molestation and rape, I find it very offensive by people who are so quick to drop the axe of guilt on an “alleged” suspect BEFORE all the evidence can be presented in a court of kaw. You do a great disservice to the alleged victims and alleged perpetrators of these types of crimes. I spent part of my career witnessing what happens when the public are quick to judge before the trial even begins! So please, in the name of JUSTICE, stop rendering a decision in cases like these BEFORE the investigation is completed and trial begins!
** “kaw” to “law”
Veronica, That is a great response and it means so much more because it is coming from someone who knows what sexual abuse is.
I have been reading that the police interviewed the boys separately and they were asked explicit questions and both denied that Busfield ever touched their private parts. Also, the claim was checked by Child Health Services and found that it did not meet sexual molestation. It was after that the mother waited a year and then brought these charges. I also read that the day after Busfield did not renew the boy’s contracts that the mother started all this.
All I can say is if he is not guilty, I hope his lawyer has put liens against everything these parents own.
Wow, talk about a manipulative mother. If your account is correct, I hope they make her pay dearly. She should be made to make a public statement as well.
Wow, what prompted all this then the mother started it? Oh my goodness.!!!
I also read these things. If they are true, it boggles my mind that a mother would do this. This could potentially ruin this man’s life. I also hate when people come up with their own judgments. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? And I agree, if he is “not” guilty I do hope his lawyers are ready to fight the fight for him and the parents who wronged him.
And you would know this how? You were there, you have photos, you have intimate details? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone so says the Bible.
How do know he is guilty? People get accused of things all the time they are not guilty of. Unless you know for a proven fact he is guilty then you shouldn’t be saying these things. Sometimes it’s the accuser with the evil heart.
You do not know that this man is guilty of anything!
Your rush to judgement without facts is typical of leftists. Do you feel proud of that comment? Because you are definitely NOT an example of what’s great about this country.
Maybe you should see if he is even guilty before talking bad about them.
You don’t know that the accusations are true or false. He hasn’t been tried. Wait until he is convicted, if he ever is, to start making noise.
Speaking of supporting an abuser, look how many voted for trump. Yes, in today’s America an abuser can be president.
Why are you bringing politics into this?
You are an idiot.
You are jumping to conclusion, we don’t know all the facts, people and kids will lie, so don’t judge her, her husband may be completely innocent.
How do you know he is guilty. Shame on you for jumping to conclusions!
There is literally no proof he did anything. In fact, they have recordings of both boys saying nothing happened. The kids were let go from his TV show and replaced. THEN a year later, they claimed he “tickled them” and made them feel uncomfortable. This entire charade is ridiculous.
Hang in there with your true love I know it means a lot having support behind you keep up the good work God knows your heart 💯
He’s not quilts till proven. There is a need to find out about the back ground of the accusers and family. Melisa needs to have family and friends to be by her side and to know. I am by her side.
Melissa, I have watched since the days of Little House. I have seen Tim throughout the years as well. I am a ministers wife, and I want you to know, that I understand what you are going through. People make accusations and assumptions about what may or may not have happened.
Hold strong to what you know is truth. I’m not going to tell you it won’t be hard. I will share this with you. Pray, for in talking to God, you will find a peace and strength that no one else can give you. There’s a song that I listened to, “I Been Through Enough “. This song helped me during a very difficult time.rest assured that I am praying for you and your family daily. 🙏
I feel like the parents are to blame for all of this . They are mad because their kids didn’t get the part anymore , so they are trying to make Tim pay for his decision. The parents or at least the mother needs to be accountable for her lies .
We should all take a collective breath and remember “innocent until proven guilty”. Someone, either the accuser or the accused, will be publically shamed. Someone is lying, that will have to come out in Court. In either scenario, guilty or innocent, no one will win.
Innocent until proven otherwise, having survived sexual abuse and assault myself and survived I know what that is like. I hate people who accuse others falsely of this crime. Hopefully for his sake that it is false. The ones that do and are proven guilty, when they are in prison they are called “ skinners” and are beaten and tortured .
It’s sad because in the tape recordings the boys denied that this happened and the with the report from the counselor the boys admitted they need “to please their father…”. Timothy’s came with the proof even before the trial and prosecutor had “some explaining to do” on what was her interpretation of the tape recordings from the police…
Hope the best for alll and justice to prevail with the complete truth!
This is why it is hard to convict real molesters and rapists. Because, people accuse someone that are mad at or trying to get back at. This is not a game to play with people’s lives, this is horrific for the the innocent and even more horrific for the victim if it really did happen and no one believes them. If people are held more accountable for lying about something like this they should be prosecuted just like for any crime. Now days people are so quick to judge on allegations made. You ruin lives before you even know if it’s true or not.