India, Jan. 21 -- A judge ordered Timothy Busfield to be released from jail on Tuesday, January 20, during a detention hearing. The prominent actor and director was charged with child sex abuse. His sobbing wife, Melissa Gilbert, was seen mouthing "thank you, God" as the judge ordered his release, the New York Post reported.

Judge David Murphy ordered that 68-year-old Busfield be released on his own recognizance until the trial. The order said that he can leave the state to live at home, but will be supervised upon release by a pretrial service in Albuquerque.

Busfield has been accused of inappropriately touching two minors while working as a director on the set of the series The Cleaning Lady. In a motion filed on January 14, the Field...