Director and Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield turned himself to authorities on Tuesday to face child sex abuse charges in New Mexico.
His apprehension comes after authorities in Albuquerque issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 9 on two counts of prison sexual contact of a minor and one depend of child abuse. The charges stem from allegations that Busfield inappropriately touched a younger boy on the set of the TV sequence “The Cleaning Lady” that he was directing.
Busfield was being booked by Albuquerque police on the charges, stated Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the town police division.
A prison criticism filed by an investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department says the boy reported that he was 7 years outdated when Busfield touched him three or 4 instances on non-public areas over his clothes. Busfield allegedly touched him 5 – 6 instances on one other event when he was 8, the criticism stated. The child was reportedly afraid to inform anybody as a result of Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him, the criticism stated.
The boy’s twin brother instructed authorities he was touched by Busfield however didn’t specify the place. He stated he didn’t say something as a result of he didn’t need to get in bother.
Busfield denied the allegations final fall when interviewed by authorities as a part of the investigation, the criticism stated. He steered that the boys’ mom was looking for revenge for her youngsters being changed on the sequence. He additionally stated he seemingly would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful surroundings.
Busfield’s legal professional didn’t instantly return a message looking for remark Tuesday. A video obtained by TMZ confirmed Busfield in entrance of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He stated he arrived in the town after driving 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers).
“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield stated.
The mom of the twins — who’re recognized solely by their initials in court docket data — reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the criticism stated.
The investigation started in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a name from a health care provider on the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The boys’ dad and mom had gone there on the suggestion of a regulation agency, the criticism stated.
According to the criticism, one of many boys has been recognized with post-traumatic stress dysfunction and nervousness. A social employee documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.
“The Cleaning Lady” aired for 4 seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The present was produced by Warner Bros., which in accordance to the criticism performed its personal investigation into the abuse allegations however was unable to corroborate them.
Busfield, who’s married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is thought for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which gained him an Emmy for excellent supporting actor in a drama sequence in 1991.
Warner Bros., like NCS, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.