Emmy-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield is facing serious criminal charges following allegations of child sexual abuse on the set of a television series.
Arrest Warrant Issued in New Mexico
Authorities in the US state of New Mexico have issued an arrest warrant for the actor, known for roles in The West Wing and Field of Dreams. The warrant, signed by a judge, charges Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
An investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department filed a criminal complaint supporting the charge. The complaint states that a child reported Busfield touched him inappropriately on multiple occasions.
Allegations from the TV Set
The alleged incidents are said to have occurred on the set of the Fox television series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield worked as both a director and an actor. According to the complaint, the child, identified only by his initials, stated the first incident happened when he was seven years old.
The child reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately three or four times during that first encounter. On another occasion, when the child was eight, the actor allegedly touched him five or six times.
The child's mother reported to New Mexico's Child Protective Services (CPS) that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024.
Impact on the Child and Investigation
The complaint reveals the young victim has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented the child saying he had nightmares about Busfield touching him and would wake up scared.
"The child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director – and he feared he would get mad at him," the documents state.
The police investigation began in November 2024 after an investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico hospital. The child's parents had gone to the hospital at the recommendation of a law firm.
According to the complaint, Warner Bros., the producer of The Cleaning Lady, conducted its own internal investigation into the allegations but was unable to corroborate them. The show aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025.
Busfield's attorney and agent did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The actor is married to fellow performer Melissa Gilbert. As of the past weekend, Gilbert's Instagram account appeared to have been deleted, and there was no immediate response from her publicist.
Busfield won an Emmy in 1991 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role in Thirtysomething.
