Actor Timothy Busfield has been jailed without bond on charges of child sexual abuse
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Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield was ordered held without bond during his first court appearance Wednesday, a day after he surrendered to authorities to face charges of child sexual abuse.
The charges stem from allegations that he inappropriately touched a child on the set of a TV series he directed in New Mexico.
Busfield appeared remotely via video link from the jail, where he was booked Tuesday. Whether you remain in jail will be the subject of a detention hearing that will be scheduled within five business days.
Albuquerque police issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest last week on two counts of sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. The criminal complaint alleges that the acts took place on the set of the series The Cleaning Ladywhich was recorded in Albuquerque.
Busfield, who is married to actress Melissa Gilbert and is known for appearing in West Wing, Field of Dreams again thirty one, He vowed to fight the crimes. In a video shared before he surrendered, Busfield called the allegations false.
An alleged pattern of misconduct spanning decades
Prosecutors want to keep Busfield in custody pending trial. They filed a motion earlier Wednesday explaining their reasons for the request, pointing to what they described as a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority and grooming behavior by Busfield over two decades.
They also said witnesses expressed fears about retaliation and injuries at work.
The proposal states that research and experience show that offenders are in a unique position to avoid accountability and bypass safeguards designed to protect children when they exercise authority, position or influence.
“Given the defendant’s demonstrated disregard for limitations, jurisdiction and relevancy, no condition or combination of conditions of release can reasonably protect the victims or the public,” the motion said.
It will be up to the judge whether to grant the request. A detention hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Prosecutors also argued that Busfield released the video to TMZ on Tuesday, suggesting he prioritized “personal narrative control and public relations” over compliance with court process.
According to the criminal complaint, an investigator from the police department says that the child reported that she was seven years old when Busfield touched her several times in private areas because of her clothing. Busfield allegedly touched her at one point when she was eight, the complaint said.
The complaint also states that the child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and was afraid that he would be angry with him.
The boy’s twin brother told authorities that he was also being contacted by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get into trouble.
The twins’ mother reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and the spring of 2024, the complaint states.
In an interview with police last fall, Busfield dismissed the allegations and suggested the boys’ mother was seeking revenge for her children’s altercations in the series. The dispute was echoed by Busfield’s lawyer on Tuesday.
The investigation began in November 2024 after 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.
Busfield’s lawyer said an independent investigation by Warner Bros. could not substantiate allegations of misconduct by Busfield. But in their filing, prosecutors argued that the investigator failed to speak to key witnesses.
