Timothy Busfield Appears in Court to Face Child Sex Abuse Allegations
Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield made his first court appearance on Wednesday, a day after turning himself in to authorities to face charges of child sex abuse stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing in New Mexico. The allegations have sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with many expressing concern and outrage over the accusations.
According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the police department says the child reported that he was 7 years old when Busfield touched him multiple times on private areas over his clothing. Busfield allegedly touched him on another occasion when he was 8, the complaint said. The child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him.
Background and Investigation
Albuquerque police issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest last week on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The allegations are related to his work on the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque. The investigation began in November 2024 after 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.
Prosecutors are seeking to keep Busfield in custody pending trial, citing a “history of alleged sexual misconduct.” They filed a motion early Wednesday detailing their reasons for the request, pointing to what they described as a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and grooming behavior by Busfield over two decades. They also said witnesses have expressed fear regarding retaliation and professional harm.
Response from Busfield and His Team
Busfield’s attorney, Larry Stein, said in a statement that Busfield denies the allegations in the criminal complaint and maintains they are completely false. “As a voluntary step, he submitted to an independent polygraph examination regarding those allegations and passed,” Stein said. Busfield’s wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, has also released a statement through her publicist, saying that she stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.
Another allegation was reported to law enforcement the same day Busfield turned himself in, Albuquerque Deputy District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch told the judge Wednesday in a court filing. A father of a then-16-year-old girl alleged Busfield kissed and inappropriately touched his daughter, who he said was auditioning for a role at B Street Theatre, an organization Busfield and his brother founded in Sacramento, California.
Next Steps and Reactions
The motion filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court seeking to keep Busfield in custody also states that research and experience show that offenders are uniquely positioned to evade accountability and circumvent safeguards designed to protect children when they wield authority, status, or influence. It will be up to a judge to determine whether to grant the request. A detention hearing has yet to be scheduled.
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