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Actor Timothy Busfield Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges in New Mexico

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Actor Timothy Busfield Indicted on Felony Charges Involving Minors

A New Mexico grand jury has indicted actor and director Timothy Busfield on felony charges related to alleged sexual contact with minors. The charges stem from accusations by two child actors on the set of the television series The Cleaning Lady. Busfield has denied all allegations, and the case is proceeding through the judicial system.

Indictment and Charges

On February 6, 2026, a Bernalillo County grand jury indicted Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child under 13. The charges are third-degree felonies.

The indictment alleges Busfield touched or applied force to the penis or buttocks of one of two 11-year-old twin boys on four separate occasions between October 2022 and May 2024.

Prior to the indictment, Busfield was initially charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse following an arrest warrant issued in November 2024.

Allegations and Investigation

The investigation began in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police to suspected abuse. According to a criminal complaint:

  • One child reported that Busfield touched him over his clothing in his genital area multiple times when he was 7 and 8 years old. The child stated he was afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director.
  • The other child reported that Busfield "started touching them for the first two years" they were on set but did not specify genital contact.
  • The children's mother reported the alleged abuse to Child Protective Services in October 2025. The mother stated the alleged incidents occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024 while the children worked on the set of The Cleaning Lady in Albuquerque.
  • The complaint states the boys referred to Busfield as "Uncle Tim."
  • One child has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, according to court documents.

Legal Proceedings and Release

  • Arrest and Initial Hearing: Busfield turned himself in to Albuquerque police on January 13, 2026. At an initial court appearance, a judge ordered him held without bond. A detention hearing was scheduled for January 20.
  • Release Order: On January 20, Judge David Murphy ordered Busfield released on his own recognizance pending trial. The judge cited Busfield's lack of criminal history and compliance with the arrest order. Conditions of his release include:
    • No contact with the alleged victims or their families.
    • No unsupervised contact with any minors.
    • No contact with witnesses in the case.
    • No alcohol or illegal drugs.
  • Upcoming Dates: A pre-trial conference is scheduled for April 22, 2026. A trial date has been set for May 2027.

Statements from Involved Parties

  • Defense Position: Busfield has consistently denied the allegations. In a video statement, he said, "They're all lies. I did not do anything to those little boys, and I'm going to fight it." His attorney, Stanton "Larry" Stein, has called the case "fundamentally unsound." The defense has argued the accusations are an act of revenge by the children's mother after the boys were replaced on the television series. Defense filings state Busfield passed an independent polygraph test regarding the allegations.
  • Prosecution Position: Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman stated, "As with all criminal proceedings, Mr. Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law." Prosecutors have argued Busfield poses a danger to the community, citing what they describe as a pattern of grooming behavior and abuse of professional authority.
  • Busfield's Wife: Actress Melissa Gilbert, Busfield's wife, has issued statements of support. In a letter to the court, she described Busfield as her "protector" and a man with a "strong moral compass." She has stated she believes in his innocence.

Additional Allegations Cited

In pretrial motions, prosecutors cited other allegations not currently part of the criminal charges:

  • The parents of a 16-year-old girl alleged that several years ago, during an audition at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento (co-founded by Busfield), he kissed her and touched her inappropriately. The defense has stated this matter concluded with therapy and an agreement not to involve police.
  • Actress Claudia Christian alleged that in 1991, on the set of the film Strays, Busfield forcibly grabbed and kissed her.
  • A 1994 allegation involved a 17-year-old extra on the film Little Big League who accused Busfield of assault after serving her alcohol. The case was settled privately.
  • A 2012 allegation involved a 28-year-old woman who accused Busfield of fondling her at a Los Angeles movie theater; no charges were filed.

Busfield has not been charged in relation to these additional allegations.

Background and Context

  • Timothy Busfield, 68, is known for acting roles in Thirtysomething (for which he won an Emmy Award), The West Wing, Field of Dreams, and Revenge of the Nerds.
  • On the Fox series The Cleaning Lady, which concluded its four-season run in 2025, Busfield served as a director and executive producer.
  • Warner Bros., the producer of The Cleaning Lady, told police it conducted an internal investigation into separate allegations but could not corroborate them.
  • Following the allegations, NBC shelved an episode of Law & Order: SVU featuring Busfield, and Deadline.com reported he was edited out of an upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film.