Timothy Busfield’s first day of freedom included swapping out his jail jumpsuit for a neat pair of navy slacks and a leisurely trip to grocery stores Citarella and Trader Joe’s, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.
Busfield, 68, was sprung from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday after a week-long stay.
The now spruced up actor was housed in the Restrictive Housing Unit – a special section of the jail reserved for inmates who require extra protection – after surrendering to Albuquerque cops on child molestation charges on January 13.
Photos exclusively taken by the Daily Mail show the embattled actor outside the luxurious AirBNB he and his family are currently renting in Albuquerque – a far cry from his cell in the New Mexico clink that infamously wakes up prisoners for a 5am breakfasts.
Busfield appeared chipper as he got out of a white Toyota 4Runner SUV outside Villa de Rafael – the swanky Italian-style mansion that wife Melissa Gilbert has rented for $2,483 for three nights.
The stunning pad, which boasts its own hot rub, also has a standalone ‘casita’ in the backyard while the main house comes complete with a spectacular stained-glass window dome and comfy beds made up with ‘high quality linens’.
Also, on hand for guests to enjoy is a gas-fired barbecue, a large library and a fully stocked games room.
Busfield’s wife Melissa Gilbert – who was seen crying tears of joy after Judge David Murphy opted to release her husband – was spotted at the property early Wednesday, taking the trash out in her pajamas.
Despite the gravity of the charges against Busfield, Gilbert, 61, has chosen to stand by her man – showing up at court in Albuquerque on Tuesday flanked by a posse of lawyers.
The Little House on the Prairie star had been keeping a low profile since it was revealed that Busfield was wanted on child sex charges – but broke her silence in an impassioned letter to the judge sent ahead of the hearing.
Writing to Judge Murphy, the thrice-married star said: ‘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.’
‘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.’
She added: ‘I am trying to tow [sic] 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.’
Following the hearing – during which the prosecution tried to keep Busfield in the slammer on the basis he presents a danger to the public – a paisley clad Gilbert took the opportunity to thank the public for the ‘outpouring of support’ she said her third husband had received.
That support was in stark contrast to his defense’s argument that the molestation charges had led to him being ‘canceled’ and that as a result, he was no longer in a position of power as the prosecution had claimed.
So far, the case has seen a slew of embarrassing headlines for Busfield, with further alleged victims coming forward to corroborate what the prosecution said was ‘a pattern of inappropriate touching’.
Embarrassingly for Gilbert and Busfield, details of their sex life were shared in court papers filed ahead of the release hearing as part of a sex offender risk evaluation.
The documents included his answers to a series of uncomfortable questions and noted: ‘Mr Busfield reports he and his current wife have a satisfying sex life and at their ages they simply enjoy one another’s company and cuddling more often than engaging in sexual intercourse’.
It added: ‘Mr Busfield’s wife confirms his statements about a satisfying sexual relationship between them.’
News of Busfield’s legal woes first emerged on January 9 when the Albuquerque PD issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations that he molested twin 11-year-old boys while filming The Cleaning Lady.
Busfield, who has denied the charges against him, then vanished for several days – only to re-emerge in New Mexico on January 13 where he handed himself in having driven 2,000-miles from his upstate New York cabin.
He was officially charged the same day and made his first appearance on January 14 – and was seen looking glum in an orange prison jumpsuit while the counts were read out.
Busfield has denied all the charges against him and told TMZ, in a video sent to the outlet while he was on the way to surrender, that he is ‘devastated’ by the allegations.
Gilbert has also made it clear that she does not believe her husband has done anything wrong while the defense, during Tuesday’s hearing, made clear they believe the case is a shakedown launched after the boys’ services were no longer required on set.
