Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield is now in police custody in New Mexico. This follows serious allegations that he sexually abused two child actors while directing the Fox drama “The Cleaning Lady.”
An Albuquerque police spokesperson confirmed that the 68-year-old actor surrendered to authorities at the Metro Detention Center. Known for roles in “The West Wing” and “Thirtysomething,” Busfield will face charges as outlined in his arrest warrant.
In a video shared by TMZ, Busfield denied the accusations, calling them “horrible.” He stated that he learned about the warrant for his arrest last Friday and immediately sought legal help. He drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque to turn himself in. “They’re all lies,” he insisted, and he vowed to fight the charges and clear his name.
Busfield’s attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, echoed these sentiments. He stated that the accusations stemmed from a supposed personal vendetta against Busfield, referencing an allegation that the mother of the child actors may have been motivated by anger towards the show’s director. Stein emphasized that prior investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing.
A New Mexico judge issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest last week. He faces two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse, as detailed in an affidavit. This document claims Busfield inappropriately touched two brothers who were acting in the series.
The mother of the child actors reported the alleged abuse to child protective services in October 2025, claiming the incidents occurred from November 2022 to spring 2024. Police began investigating after a doctor at a local hospital raised concerns.
Interestingly, Warner Bros. Television, which produced “The Cleaning Lady,” already conducted a separate investigation into complaints about Busfield’s behavior in early 2025. According to workplace investigator Christina McGovern, she found no evidence to support the allegations.
Following the allegations, Busfield’s wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, reportedly took down her Instagram account. Her publicist stated that she would not make any public comments about the case but would focus on supporting their family through this challenging time.
These circumstances have drawn public attention not just because of the serious nature of the allegations, but also due to the impact such revelations have on the industry and the safety of cast and crew. Conversations around similar allegations continue to resonate in Hollywood, highlighting the need for better protections for child actors on set.
As this situation unfolds, the outcomes could set important precedents for how such cases are handled in the future, influencing both legal and industry practices.
For more detailed information on similar cases, you can read about it here.
