Melissa Gilbert became visibly emotional in a New Mexico courtroom after Judge David Murphy ruled that her husband, Timothy Busfield, would be released ahead of trial on his own recognizance. The decision came despite prosecutors urging the court to keep Busfield in custody, and required him to comply with strict conditions while awaiting further proceedings.
Under the judge’s order, Busfield, 68, will be supervised by pretrial services in Albuquerque and must follow multiple restrictions, including no contact with the alleged victims or their families, no interaction with minors, no possession of weapons, and abstaining from alcohol and illegal drugs. He must also attend all future court dates and notify the court of any address changes. No trial date has yet been set.
Prosecutors argued against release, citing allegations of past misconduct and concerns about Busfield’s actions after an arrest warrant was issued, including a delay in turning himself in. They also referenced claims by actress Claudia Christian and raised questions about compliance. Despite these objections, the court found supervised release appropriate under the circumstances.
In support of release, Busfield’s legal team submitted a psychosexual evaluation that classified him as “very low risk,” along with more than 75 letters backing him, including several from Melissa Gilbert. Busfield faces multiple felony charges involving alleged conduct with minors, has denied all allegations, and says he intends to fight the case as it moves forward through the legal system.
