Timothy Busfield and wife Melissa Gilbert appeared relieved Tuesday after a New Mexico judge ordered the actor released from custody while he awaits trial.
Busfield, 68, was released from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County on Tuesday, Jan. 20—one week after surrendering to authorities and being charged in connection with child sex abuse allegations. Busfield has denied the accusations.
Earlier Tuesday, Busfield appeared for a roughly two-hour pretrial detention hearing. At the conclusion, the judge ruled he could be released on his own recognizance under a series of conditions.
Busfield’s civil attorney, Larry Stein, said the actor was “feeling wonderful” after the ruling.
“He can reunite with Melissa,” Stein said, adding that Gilbert, 61, was “very, very excited.”
Gilbert attended the hearing in court alongside her mother, Barbara Cowan, 89, her son Michael Boxleitner, and Busfield’s brother, Buck. After the judge announced the release decision, Gilbert was seen crying and whispering, “Thank you, God.”
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Gilbert has publicly expressed support for Busfield since charges were filed. On Jan. 13, her representative, Ame Van Iden, issued a statement on her behalf saying Gilbert “stands with and supports her husband.”
On Jan. 16, Gilbert was among 75 people who submitted letters supporting Busfield’s legal team in opposing the state’s motion for pretrial detention. In her letter, Gilbert wrote about her admiration for her husband and ended with a plea: “Please, please, take care of my sweet husband.”
According to prosecutors, an arrest warrant was issued for Busfield on Jan. 9. Four days later, he surrendered and was formally charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) and one count of child abuse.
Investigators allege Busfield engaged in unlawful sexual conduct involving two boys—11-year-old twins whose identities were not made public—according to the warrant.
Before surrendering, Busfield said in a video obtained by TMZ that he “did not do anything to those little boys” and that he planned to fight the accusations.
In ordering Busfield’s release, the judge cited his decision to turn himself in. “This defendant self-surrendered and submitted himself to this court’s jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with the court order for his arrest,” the judge said.
“I cannot find that the state has proven by clear and convincing evidence that there are no release conditions that would reasonably protect the safety of any younger person in the community,” the judge continued.
Under the judge’s order, Busfield must appear for all future court dates. He is prohibited from possessing firearms or other dangerous weapons, consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, contacting the alleged victims or their families, discussing the case with witnesses, or having unsupervised contact with any minor children.
He is permitted to travel, but will be supervised by Pretrial Services in New Mexico and must keep the court informed of his address.
