The spouse of West Wing star Timothy Busfield has taken legal steps following his arrest related to accusations of child sexual abuse.
On January 13, Busfield turned himself in after the Albuquerque Police Department issued an arrest warrant, claiming he had engaged in illegal sexual activities with two young boys.
On the same day, he was formally charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse, making his initial court appearance on January 14.
Currently, he is detained without bail, with a pretrial detention hearing set for January 20.
On January 16, a new document was filed in response to the state’s request for pretrial detention, containing 75 letters of support from Busfield’s family, friends, and colleagues, including one from his wife, Melissa Gilbert.
In the letter acquired by PEOPLE, Melissa, aged 61, voiced her support for her husband amidst the charges against him.
She pleaded with the court to ‘take care of my sweet husband’, writing: “I am trying to tow a line between logic and all the feelings swirling through me.
“I began this letter with logic, but now the feelings have taken over. I can’t help it.
“I only want this extraordinary man safe and whole. So, I will close by asking you to please, please, take care of my sweet husband.
“As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart, I am relying on you to protect him for me.”
The Little House on the Prairie actress talked about their brief meeting in the 1980s and falling in love in 2012, writing: “The reality is that 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. Tim is, quite simply, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family.”
In her letter, she continued: “I can tell you, and anyone, that I know Tim better and more intimately than anything in his life ever has. Conversely, he knows me in the same way.
“Tim has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known. He has dedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others. He starts every day with kindness and compassion.”
According to a warrant issued on January 9, Busfield is accused of having engaged in unlawful sexual contact with 11-year-old twins, whose identities remain undisclosed for legal reasons.
Busfield shared a video with TMZ where he refuted the allegations.
“Hi everybody, it’s Tim,” he said. “I’m sure most of you know, that are watching this, that I was ordered to come to Albuquerque – I’m here now.
“I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer. Saturday, I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.”
He further stated: “They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it. I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”
Busfield’s civil attorney, Larry Stein, informed PEOPLE: “The allegations were never challenged, they were never proved, and they’re 25 years old. And there doesn’t seem to be any connection between these allegations regarding women 25 years ago and the allegations regarding these young boys.”
UNILAD has approached representatives of Melissa Gilbert for comment and has previously approached Busfield for comment.