Emmy Award-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield appeared in court Wednesday after turning himself in to New Mexico authorities to face multiple felony charges involving alleged sexual abuse of minors. Prosecutors are seeking to keep the 68-year-old actor in custody as the case proceeds, citing both the current charges and a newly reported allegation against him from years earlier.
Busfield was arrested after Albuquerque police issued a warrant charging him with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The charges stem from accusations that he inappropriately touched two young boys on the set of the television series “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque while Busfield was directing. The children’s mother reported the alleged abuse to Child Protective Services, saying it occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. The investigation began in November 2024 after a physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted authorities. Investigators said the boys feared reporting the incidents because Busfield was in a position of authority on set. Busfield denied the allegations during a police interview, suggesting the children’s mother was retaliating after her sons were replaced on the show, a claim later echoed by his attorney.
On Wednesday, prosecutors filed a motion seeking to keep Busfield detained pending trial, arguing that his release would pose a risk to the community. Prosecutors also disclosed a new allegation reported to law enforcement the same day Busfield surrendered. According to court filings, the father of a then-16-year-old girl alleged that Busfield kissed and inappropriately touched his daughter during an audition at B Street Theatre in Sacramento, California, an organization Busfield co-founded. The alleged incident occurred several years ago, and no charges have been filed in that matter.
Busfield’s attorney, Larry Stein, has denied all allegations on behalf of his client, sharing in a statement: “Tim Busfield denies the allegations in the criminal complaint and maintains they are completely false. As a voluntary step, he submitted to an independent polygraph examination regarding those allegations and passed.” Busfield also share a video to the media outlet TMZ on Tuesday prior to turning himself in, where he labelled the accusations against him as ‘lies’ — a move prosecutors criticized as an attempt to control the public narrative.
During Wednesday’s court appearance, Busfield did not enter a plea and was ordered held without bond. He remains in custody at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, with a detention hearing expected within five business days, when a judge will determine whether he will remain in custody.
Busfield, best known for roles in “The West Wing,” “Thirtysomething,” and the film “Field of Dreams,” is married to actor Melissa Gilbert. Through her publicist, Gilbert said she is not commenting publicly during the legal process. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time,” the statement said, warning that online claims attributed to her, including AI-generated content, are not authentic.
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