Actor Timothy Busfield faces child sex abuse allegations in New Mexico
Authorities in New Mexico issued an arrest warrant Friday for Emmy Award-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield, charging him with child sexual abuse. The warrant follows a criminal complaint filed by an Albuquerque Police Department investigator, which alleges that a child reported being inappropriately touched by Busfield on the set of the television series The Cleaning Lady, a show Busfield both directed and appeared in.
According to the complaint, the alleged abuse occurred on two occasions. The child said the first incident happened at age 7, when Busfield touched him three or four times, and a second incident occurred at age 8, with five or six alleged touches. The child’s mother reported the alleged incidents to Child Protective Services, saying they took place between November 2022 and spring 2024. The arrest warrant, signed by a judge, charges Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
The complaint identifies the child only by his initials and notes he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented the child saying he experienced nightmares about the alleged abuse and often woke up frightened. The child reportedly did not initially report the incidents out of fear that Busfield, as director, would be angry.
The investigation began in November 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital referred the case to authorities. The child’s parents had sought medical attention on the advice of a law firm, according to the complaint. Warner Bros., which produced The Cleaning Lady, conducted its own internal review of the allegations but did not confirm them.
The Cleaning Lady aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025, and followed a Cambodian doctor who becomes involved in organized crime after witnessing a mob killing in the U.S. Busfield is also known for his roles in The West Wing, Field of Dreams, and Thirtysomething, the latter earning him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991. Busfield is married to actor Melissa Gilbert; her publicist did not respond to a request for comment.
Busfield’s attorney and agent had not responded to requests for comment as of Friday evening.
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