Attorneys for Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield have urged a court to release him from custody, arguing that a private investigation has severely undermined the state's case against him on child sex abuse charges.
Defence Presents Case for Release
During a court hearing on Friday 16 January 2026, Busfield's legal team presented multiple grounds for his release while he awaits the outcome of the charges. They stated that an independent investigation commissioned by Warner Bros. found the allegations to be unfounded, a detail they claim prosecutors omitted from their criminal complaint. Furthermore, they highlighted a history of alleged fraud and dishonesty by the parents of the accusers and revealed that Busfield had passed a polygraph test, the results of which they say align with other exculpatory evidence.
Busfield was ordered held without bond at his initial court appearance on Wednesday 14 January, a day after he voluntarily surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred on the set of the television series "The Cleaning Lady," which was filmed in the city.
Allegations and Counter-Claims
According to the criminal complaint, a child reported that Busfield touched him over his clothing on private areas on two separate occasions, once when he was 7 and again when he was 8 years old. The boy's twin brother also told authorities he was touched by the actor, though he did not specify where. The brother stated he did not report it at the time because he feared getting into trouble.
Busfield's defence team contests this narrative, asserting in court filings that the allegations only surfaced after the two boys lost their roles on the TV show. They argue this timing suggests a financial and retaliatory motive behind the accusations. The filings detail what they describe as a pattern of fraudulent behaviour by both the mother and father of the children.
Legal Proceedings and Evidence
A judge is scheduled to hold a detention hearing on Tuesday 20 January to decide whether Busfield will remain in jail. He faces an arrest warrant issued by Albuquerque police on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
In a video shared before he turned himself in, Busfield publicly denied the claims, calling them lies. His attorneys have also submitted numerous letters vouching for his character. The admissibility of his polygraph test results will be at the discretion of the judge, as New Mexico is one of the few US states that allows such evidence in criminal cases, subject to strict requirements.
The actor, known for roles in "The West Wing" and "Field of Dreams" and who is married to actress Melissa Gilbert, maintains his innocence. The outcome of Tuesday's hearing will be a critical next step in this high-profile legal case.
