Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield surrendered to authorities in New Mexico on Tuesday to address accusations of child sex abuse, specifically regarding inappropriate contact with a minor while directing a TV series. The arrest followed a warrant issued in Albuquerque on Jan. 9, citing two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. Allegations point to incidents during the filming of “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque.
Known for roles in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething,” Busfield, married to actor Melissa Gilbert, had faced questioning by authorities last fall, where he refuted the claims. Albuquerque police were in the process of booking him, as confirmed by Gilbert Gallegos, the city police department spokesperson.
NBC confirmed the shelving of an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” featuring Busfield, who was set to appear as a judge. The criminal complaint details incidents where Busfield allegedly touched a boy on private areas over clothing when he was seven and later when he was eight, with the child reluctant to report due to fear of repercussions.
During questioning, Busfield insinuated that the boys’ mother sought revenge for her children being replaced on the show and defended his actions as playful interactions. His attorney was unavailable for immediate comment. The complaint, based on reports to Child Protective Services, indicated the abuse took place between November 2022 and spring 2024, leading to investigations initiated in November 2024.
One of the boys, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, reported nightmares about the incidents. Despite Warner Bros.’ internal inquiry into the allegations during the production of “The Cleaning Lady,” no substantiation was found. The series aired on Fox for four seasons until 2025.
