Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield surrendered himself to authorities on Tuesday in New Mexico to address child sex abuse charges. The allegations accuse him of inappropriate touching of a minor during his direction of a TV series. The arrest followed a warrant issued in Albuquerque on Jan. 9 for two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. The incidents reportedly took place on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque.
Busfield, known for his roles in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething,” where he won an Emmy in 1991, was taken into custody by the Albuquerque police. According to Gilbert Gallegos, the city police department spokesperson, Busfield refuted the accusations during questioning last autumn as part of the investigation.
NBC decided not to air an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” featuring Busfield, where he was set to appear as a judge. The network confirmed the decision, as the show focuses on sex crimes.
The criminal complaint, filed by an investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department, details that the minor reported being touched by Busfield multiple times at ages seven and eight. The child refrained from disclosing the incidents due to fear of Busfield’s reaction, given his position as the director.
In his defense, Busfield implied that the boys’ mother sought retaliation for her children being replaced on the show. He suggested that his interactions with the boys were playful and denied the allegations vehemently.
The investigation began in November 2024 after Child Protective Services received a report from the twins’ mother regarding incidents between November 2022 and spring 2024. The complaint states that one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, with documented nightmares about the alleged abuse.
“The Cleaning Lady,” a series that aired for four seasons on Fox until 2025, was produced by Warner Bros. The production company conducted its own inquiry into the allegations but could not substantiate them.