Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield surrendered to authorities on Tuesday to address child sex abuse accusations in New Mexico. The charges relate to claims of inappropriate touching of a minor while directing a TV series. The arrest followed a warrant issued by Albuquerque officials on Jan. 9, citing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse during the filming of the series “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque.
Busfield, known for roles in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething,” where he earned an Emmy in 1991, was taken into custody by Albuquerque police. His spouse, actress Melissa Gilbert, is also recognized in the entertainment industry.
Despite denying the allegations during a prior interview with investigators, NBC decided to withhold an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” featuring Busfield as a judge. The criminal complaint states that a minor, aged seven at the time, reported multiple incidents of inappropriate touching by Busfield on set, causing distress due to the director’s authority.
Busfield implied that the accuser’s mother sought retribution for her children’s replacement on the show, suggesting the interactions were playful and misconstrued. The incident reportedly occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, with one of the boys diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, detailing nightmares related to the encounters.
Despite Warner Bros. conducting an internal probe into the allegations without substantiating them, “The Cleaning Lady,” a Fox series that concluded in 2025 after four seasons, faced scrutiny over the reported abuse incidents involving Busfield.
Busfield’s legal representative did not respond to immediate requests for comment, with the actor vehemently denouncing the accusations as falsehoods upon his arrival in Albuquerque for legal proceedings.