The former Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert’s husband Timothy Busfield has been accused of child sex abuse.
Gilbert’s Husband Hit With Arrest Warrant
Busfield, who is an actor and director, has been charged with child sex abuse after New Mexico authorities issued an arrest warrant on Friday.
The criminal complaint was filed by an investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department. This was done for a case involving two minors who were part of the series The Cleaning Lady, which Busfield directed. The victims were reportedly 11 year-old twin boys.
Busfield worked on this program from 2022 until 2025. He reportedly “grew closer to the boys” during their time shooting the show together. Busfield, 68, allegedly instructed the boys to call him “Uncle Tim.” He also tickled them on their stomach and legs, according to the arrest warrant. Both boys allege that Busfield touched them inappropriately. One of them claims that Busfield touched his genitals on several occasions.
The incident was reported to the authorities by the mother of the twins. One of them has allegedly been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety in the wake of the abuse.
In November of 2025, Busfield talked to detectives over the phone about these allegations. At the time, he said that it was “highly likely” that he had “physical contact” with the boys. He described the set of The Cleaning Lady as being a “playful environment.”
“I don’t remember those boys,” Busfield also said, according to the affidavit. “No, I don’t. I don’t actually, I don’t remember it, if it happened. I don’t remember overtly tickling the boys ever, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for me.”
Gilbert And Busfield’s History
Gilbert and Busfield have been married since 2013. She reportedly listened in on his call with detectives via speaker phone.
In July of last year, Gilbert revealed the secret to her and Busfield’s long-lasting marriage while appearing on Jennie Garth’s “I Choose Me” podcast.
“I think it’s part and parcel of the fact that it’s a partnership, that we do everything with the other one in mind, and we are very considerate of one another and we respect each other immensely,” Gilbert said at the time. “And so there are no decisions that are made singularly.”
“Everything is discussed, shared, and there’s so much comfort in that, and it’s so much gentler and easier,” she continued. “I mean, you know, we all have our moments, but they’re so few and far between with both of us. Even our arguments are constructive.”
Back in 2023, Gilbert gushed over how much she and Busfield love being grandparents.
“It’s absolutely heavenly because I have, as a grandparent, I’m going to speak for both of us,” Gilbert told People Magazine. “As grandparents, Tim and I can relax in the knowledge that we’ve done all of this, so there’s no stress.”
“I’m not stressed at all,” she added. “We’re both really relaxed with them, and we can just play and have fun and give them back.”
Busfield is best known for starring on shows like The West Wing and Thirtysomething, for which he won an Emmy back in 1991. He additionally had a starring role in the classic 1989 movie Field of Dreams.
At the time of this writing, it’s unclear if Busfield has been booked on his charges. Gilbert has deleted her social media accounts in the wake of his arrest warrant. It will certainly be interesting to see how this story develops.