American actor Timothy Busfield has surrendered to police in New Mexico to face serious charges of child sexual abuse. The 68-year-old star of The West Wing and Field of Dreams turned himself in on Tuesday 13 January 2026, four days after an arrest warrant was issued.
Melissa Gilbert Breaks Silence with Statement of Support
Busfield's wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, has broken her silence through a representative. The statement confirmed Gilbert is "standing with and supports her husband" during the legal process. It explained she is honouring a request from his legal team not to speak publicly while the case unfolds, and is focusing on supporting their large family.
The statement concluded by asking for privacy and indicated Gilbert would address the public at an appropriate future time.
Busfield's Arrest and Video Declaration of Innocence
Busfield was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque on Tuesday afternoon. Prior to surrendering, he recorded a video statement obtained by TMZ, in which he vehemently denied all allegations.
In the video, Busfield stated he drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque after receiving the call on Friday night. He called the accusations "horrible" and "all lies," specifically stating: "I did not do anything to those little boys." He vowed to fight the charges with his legal team, expressing confidence he would be exonerated.
Details of the Allegations and Investigation
The arrest warrant stems from allegations that Busfield inappropriately touched two juvenile actors while working on the Fox crime series The Cleaning Lady (2022-25). He served as an executive producer and director on the show.
Police documents allege the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. One specific claim alleges he kissed a boy on the face in a hair and makeup trailer.
The Albuquerque Police Department began investigating in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted them. Complaints were also reported to Warner Bros. in February 2025, prompting an independent investigation which reportedly found no evidence to support the claims.
According to police documents, Busfield told investigators he believed the mother of the alleged victims was seeking revenge because her children were not cast in the show's final season.
Immediate Fallout and Career Impact
The charges have had immediate professional consequences for Busfield. NBC has pulled an upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU in which he was slated to guest star.
Busfield, who married Melissa Gilbert in 2013, has been married three times and has three children from previous marriages. His representatives did not return a request for comment from The Independent following the charges.
