Melissa Gilbert Calls Watching Timothy Busfield Be a Stepfather Her “Greatest Joy” as He Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges

Melissa Gilbert is standing firmly by her husband, Timothy Busfield, as he faces serious child sex abuse allegations — and she is doing so by highlighting what she calls one of the greatest joys of her life: watching him be a stepfather to her son.

In an emotional character letter submitted to the court and obtained by PEOPLE on Saturday, January 17, the 61-year-old actress praised Busfield, 68, following his arrest on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

“One of the great joys of my life has been watching Tim interact with my youngest son, Michael,” Gilbert wrote, referring to Michael Boxleitner, now 30, whom she shares with her ex-husband, actor Bruce Boxleitner.

Gilbert recalled that when she and Busfield began their relationship in 2012, Michael was a “full-blown, angst-ridden teenager trying to figure out his place in the world.” According to her, Busfield stepped in with patience, care, and consistency.

“Tim nurtured and guided Michael,” she wrote. “He admonished, praised, loved, consoled, cajoled, fretted, cared for, and fed my son — both physically and spiritually.”

The Little House on the Prairie star, who is also mother to son Dakota Brinkman from her first marriage to Bo Brinkman, went on to express profound gratitude for her husband, describing him as “the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family.”

Calling Busfield her “rock” and “partner in business and life,” Gilbert added that his “joy, humor, and quick wit bring sparkle” to her life, insisting she knows him “better and more intimately than anyone else ever has.”

Busfield also received support from Michael Boxleitner himself, who submitted a separate character letter included in the same court filing. In it, Boxleitner wrote that Busfield “showed up for me as a father” in ways his biological father did not.

“He is kind, thoughtful, and carries himself with a stalwart integrity,” Boxleitner wrote, calling his stepfather his “hero.”

Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police on January 13 and was charged in New Mexico in connection with alleged incidents that occurred while he was directing the Fox series The Cleaning Lady. The alleged victims in that case are 11-year-old twin boys. A separate court motion later included an unrelated allegation of sexual abuse.

Busfield has denied all accusations. In a video obtained by TMZ, he said he intends to “confront these lies” and fight the charges.

His civil attorney, Larry Stein, echoed that denial, telling PEOPLE that Busfield was “absolutely shocked” by what he described as “false allegations.”

“He’s devastated and will defend himself,” Stein said.

Busfield remains in custody without bond and is scheduled to appear for a pretrial detention hearing on January 20. Melissa Gilbert is listed as a potential witness in the case.