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CRIME Alert.
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I'm Nancy Grace. Breaking crime news now, allegations mount against Emmy Award winner Timothy Busfield, the spouse of Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert. His lawyer trying to deflect, says the West Wing actor passed a voluntary independent polygraph test denying all claims. Crime Stories Nicole Parton explains Nicole Nancy.
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Busfield was ordered held without bond at his first court appearance on Wednesday, a day after he turned himself in to face charges stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing in New Mexico. This as new details emerge about a separate misconduct allegation against him in the seven page filing. New Mexico prosecutors said law enforcement officers received a report Thursday from the alleged victim's father who said Buzzfield kissed his 16 year old daughter and inappropriately touched her quote several years ago. But Melissa Gilbert is standing resolutely by her husband, Timothy Buzzfield as he confronts the serious sexual abuse allegations. The 61 year old actress, known for her role in Little House on the Prairie, has been named as a potential witness for BUS features defense in a court document filed on Friday. The filing contains Busfield's response to the state's request for pretrial detention, listing 13 people, including Melissa Gilbert, his wife, who may testify on his behalf. In addition to her potential witness role, Gilbert has written a heartfelt letter to the judge expressing her unwavering support for her husband. This document also includes 75 letters from family and colleagues advocating for bus. In her letter, Gilbert described her bond with her husband, recalling their initial meeting in the 1980s and their subsequent reconnection years later. She mentioned that they fell in Love in 2012, stating, Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life. His joy, humor and quick wit light up my days. He is the heartbeat of our vibrant and loving extended family. She emphasized Busfield's strong moral character, saying, he possesses the most solid moral compass I've ever encount. His life is dedicated to serving others and he approaches each day with kindness and compassion. Gilbert also praised her husband's mentorship of her youngest son, Michael, describing his influence as profound. She credited his military experiences for instilling values of honor, integrity and compassion in him. In closing her letter, Gilbert reflected on the emotional strain of addressing the court, saying, quote, 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 heartbreaking. I'm relying on you to protect him for me. An arrest warrant for the acclaimed director and Emmy winning actor was issued on January 9. The investigation into the allegations against Busfield began on November 1, 2024, following a report from a physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital regarding suspected sexual abuse of twin boys who were child actors and worked on set with Busfield.