Actor-director Timothy Busfield surrendered to authorities on charges of child sexual abuse
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Emmy Award-winning director and actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to authorities Tuesday to face charges of child sexual abuse in New Mexico.
His concern comes after authorities in Albuquerque issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 9 for two counts of sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. The charges stem from allegations that Busfield inappropriately touched a young boy on a TV series. The Cleaning Ladyhe was directing.
Busfield, who is married to actress Melissa Gilbert, is known for appearing in The West Wing, Field of Dreams again Thirty onethe latter of which won him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.
He was arrested by Albuquerque police on the charges, said Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the city’s police department.
A criminal complaint filed by an Albuquerque Police Department investigator says the boy reported that he was seven years old when Busfield touched him three or four times in private areas because of his clothing. Busfield allegedly touched her five or six times at one point when she was eight, according to the complaint.
The child was said to be afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and feared he would be angry with her, the complaint said.
The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was contacted by Busfield, but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get into trouble.
Busfield denies the allegations
Busfield denied the allegations last week when he was interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation, the complaint said. He suggested that the mother of the boys wants to take revenge for her children being changed in this series. He also said that he would pick them up and tickle the boys, saying that this set is a place to play.
Busfield’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment Tuesday. Video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the background. He said he arrived in the city after traveling 3,200 kilometers.
“I’m going to face these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.
The mother of the twins — identified only by their first names in court records — reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and the spring of 2024, the complaint said.
The investigation began in November 2024, when an investigator answered a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The parents of these boys had gone there on the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.
According to the complaint, one of the boys was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The social worker wrote to her that she had nightmares about Busfield touching her.
The Cleaning Lady aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros., according to the complaint, it conducted its own investigation into the alleged abuse but could not back it up.
