Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield surrendered to authorities on Tuesday in New Mexico to address child sex abuse accusations. The charges involve alleged inappropriate physical contact with a minor while directing a TV series on set in Albuquerque. Busfield’s arrest followed a warrant issued by Albuquerque authorities on Jan. 9, citing two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse on the set of the show The Cleaning Lady.
Married to actress Melissa Gilbert, Busfield is recognized for his roles in The West Wing, Field of Dreams, and Thirtysomething</em, winning an Emmy in 1991 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. Albuquerque police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos confirmed that Busfield was being processed on the specified charges.
Last fall, Busfield refuted the allegations during questioning by investigators. NBC postponed an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit featuring Busfield as a guest judge, scheduled for airing on Thursday. The criminal complaint, filed by an Albuquerque Police Department investigator, details instances where Busfield allegedly touched the boy several times when he was seven and eight years old.
Busfield implied that the boys’ mother sought retaliation for her children being replaced on the show. He mentioned that he might have engaged in playful interactions, like tickling, on the set. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment. Busfield, in a video obtained by TMZ, expressed intentions to challenge the accusations upon his arrival in Albuquerque after a long drive.
The twins’ mother reported the abuse to Child Protective Services, stating that the incidents occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. The investigation commenced in November 2024 following a report from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital. One of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, with documented nightmares of Busfield’s actions.
The Cleaning Lady ran for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. Warner Bros., the show’s producer, conducted an internal investigation into the allegations but could not substantiate them.