Little House on the Prairie Podcast References 'Tough Week' amid Arrest of Melissa Gilbert's Husband Timothy Busfield By Amy McCarthy

The Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Podcast acknowledged that this was a “tough week” amid the arrest of Timothy Busfield, husband of Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls in the television adaptation of the beloved book series.

In an interview on the show’s Thursday, Jan. 15 episode, host Pamela Bob spoke with two of the series’ stars — Dean Butler, who played Laura’s eventual husband Almanzo Wilder, and Alison Arngrim, the actress who portrayed Nellie Oleson — about how she appreciated the way that Little House on the Prairie made her feel “comforted and warm” during a “tough week in the U.S. of A.”

“And I was so glad to watch Little House on the Prairie to feel comforted and warm, and safe, and like there is love and compassion in this universe,” Bob said. “So, yay, Little House.”

The podcast did not specifically acknowledge the allegations against Busfield, who is currently incarcerated in New Mexico, awaiting a hearing on child sex abuse charges.

On Jan. 13, Busfield turned himself in to the Albuquerque Police Department after a warrant for his arrest was issued. That same day, he was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

In a recorded video statement on Jan. 13, Busfield denied the allegations of child sex abuse, made by twin 11-year-old boys whom he worked with while directing the FOX series The Cleaning Lady.

“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,” Busfield said in the video. “Saturday I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.”

On Jan. 14, Busfield made his first appearance in court, where a judge ruled that he would be held without bond ahead of a pretrial detention hearing. The judge confirmed the hearing would take place in the next five business days. Jan. 29 is the deadline for his preliminary hearing.

As previously reported by PEOPLE, prosecutors are seeking to keep him detained while he awaits trial.

In a pretrial detention motion obtained by PEOPLE, prosecutors also alleged that Busfield was accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl while he was involved with a California theater company 25 years ago. The accusation did not lead to any charges being filed against him.

Later, the theater company confirmed that it had initiated an investigation into the allegations, and that Busfeld hadn’t been involved with the organization since 2001.

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After the new allegation was filed in the pretrial detention motion, Busfield’s civil attorney Larry Stein shared a statement with PEOPLE. “The allegations were never challenged, they were never proved, and they’re 25 years old,” Stein said. “And there doesn’t seem to be any connection between these allegations regarding women 25 years ago and the allegations regarding these young boys.”

Gilbert, meanwhile, issued a statement on Jan. 13, shortly after Busfield’s video was made public, through her representative Ame Van Iden, in which she said that she “stands with and supports her husband,” and requested privacy.

“Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time,” the statement began. “Any purported ‘statements’ circulating online — including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’ — should not be treated as coming from her.”

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“She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds,” the statement continued. “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”

If convicted, Busfield could face up to 15 years in prison.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.