The Albuquerque Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for Timothy Busfield, citing charges of criminal sexual contact with a minor as well as child abuse.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The acclaimed director and Emmy-winning actor, Timothy Busfield, voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement on Tuesday in response to allegations of child sexual abuse in New Mexico.
The arrest follows a warrant released on January 9 by Albuquerque authorities, accusing Busfield of two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. These charges are linked to accusations that Busfield engaged in inappropriate behavior with a young boy during the filming of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” which he was directing.
According to Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, Busfield is currently being processed by police on these charges.
A criminal complaint submitted by an investigator from the Albuquerque Police details that the alleged victim, a young boy, claimed he was just 7 years old when Busfield touched him inappropriately on several occasions over his clothing. The complaint also notes that similar incidents reportedly occurred when the boy was 8 years old.
The complaint further reveals that the child hesitated to report the incidents due to fear of Busfield’s reaction, given his authoritative role as the director.
The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.
Busfield denied the allegations last fall when interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation, the complaint said. He suggested that the boys’ mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series. He also said he likely would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful environment.
Busfield’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment Tuesday. A video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He said he arrived in the city after driving 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers).
“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.
The mother of the twins — who are identified only by their initials in court records — reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said.
The investigation began in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The boys’ parents had gone there at the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.
According to the complaint, one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.
“The Cleaning Lady” aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros., which according to the complaint conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.
Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which won him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.
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