Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield surrendered to authorities in New Mexico on Tuesday to address charges of child sex abuse. The accusations involve inappropriate touching of a minor while he was directing a TV series on set in Albuquerque. The arrest followed a warrant issued on Jan. 9 for two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse during the filming of “The Cleaning Lady.”
Busfield, known for his roles in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething,” where he earned an Emmy in 1991, was taken into custody by Albuquerque police. He denied the allegations during questioning last fall as part of the investigation.
NBC decided to postpone an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” featuring Busfield, who was set to appear as a judge. The criminal complaint details instances where the child, who was seven at the time, reported being touched by Busfield multiple times. The boy’s twin brother also disclosed being touched but did not specify the areas, fearing repercussions.
During interviews with authorities, Busfield mentioned a possible motive of revenge from the boys’ mother due to her children being replaced on the show. His lawyer did not respond to requests for comments on the matter. Busfield, in a video, refuted the allegations, claiming they were entirely false.
The abuse incidents were reported to have taken place between November 2022 and spring 2024. The investigation commenced in November 2024 following a report from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Warner Bros., the production company behind “The Cleaning Lady,” conducted an internal inquiry but could not substantiate the abuse claims.
The series, which aired for four seasons on Fox until 2025, had Busfield directing episodes. The child victims have since shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, with one reporting nightmares related to the alleged abuse.