Melissa Gilbert publicly supported her husband Timothy Busfield after New Mexico authorities accused him of child sexual abuse. Her publicist said in January 2026 that Gilbert stood with him; in an April interview, Gilbert said she trusted him and believed he would be exonerated. Busfield denies the allegations. A grand jury indicted him on four counts in February 2026, but an indictment is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt.
What Melissa Gilbert said about supporting her husband
January 2026: a statement from her publicist
On January 13, after Busfield surrendered in New Mexico, Gilbert’s publicist Ame Van Iden said: “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.” The statement was made by her representative, not in a direct interview with Gilbert. CBS News / Associated Press reported the statement and arrest.
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April 2026: Gilbert speaks in an interview
In an interview aired on ABC’s Good Morning America on April 6, Gilbert said she trusted Busfield and believed he would be exonerated. She called the case “the most traumatizing experiences of our lives” and said: “Believe me, if I thought for a second that Tim Busfield hurt a child, he’d have a lot more to worry about than prison.” Gilbert also said: “I trust him with my children’s lives, my grandchildren’s lives, my nieces and nephews.” Asked what she wanted from the justice process, she answered: “Exoneration and apology. Free him from this cloud.” These statements describe Gilbert’s beliefs, not evidence resolving the allegations. The Los Angeles Times covered the interview.
What Busfield is accused of, and his response
The criminal complaint, as described in contemporaneous reporting, concerned allegations involving two brothers who were child actors on the Fox series The Cleaning Lady, filmed in Albuquerque. The complaint alleged inappropriate touching when one child was 7 and 8; the twin brother also told authorities that Busfield touched him. Those are allegations in a complaint, not established facts. CBS News / Associated Press reported the complaint allegations.
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Busfield has denied the allegations. His lawyer called them false and said Busfield intended to clear his name. In February 2026, a grand jury indicted him on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child. The indictment is a formal charge; it does not establish guilt. The Los Angeles Times reported on the indictment and Gilbert’s interview.
Case timeline and latest reported court activity
- January 13, 2026: Busfield surrendered after authorities issued an arrest warrant. His attorney said he maintained his innocence; Gilbert’s publicist issued the support statement.
- January 20, 2026: A judge released Busfield pending trial after a detention hearing. Release pending trial is not a ruling on whether the allegations are true. Associated Press reported the release.
- February 2026: A grand jury indicted Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child.
- April 6, 2026: Gilbert’s first sit-down interview since the indictment aired on Good Morning America.
- July 21, 2026: The court entered an amended scheduling order. The Second Judicial District Court’s high-profile cases page lists case materials and motion practice.
- September 25, 2026: KOAT and the Albuquerque Journal reported that a judge heard arguments on the defense motion to dismiss or quash the indictment. KOAT reported that a ruling was expected by October 16. The reports and court materials cited here do not establish whether the judge later ruled.
The case’s status after that reported target date, including any ruling, trial date, or new order, should be confirmed against the current court docket. A motion hearing is not itself a decision on the motion.
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How to understand the different accounts
The statements and documents have different evidentiary weight. Gilbert has expressed personal confidence in Busfield; Busfield has denied the accusations; the complaint sets out allegations; and the grand jury indictment formally charges him. None of those, on its own, is a court finding that resolves the case. The available procedural update is that a judge heard the defense motion in September 2026; whether the court subsequently ruled is not established by the cited reporting and court listing.
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