At a Glance
- Timothy Busfield was ordered held without bond on child sex abuse charges in Albuquerque.
- Prosecutors revealed a separate allegation involving a 16-year-old girl in California.
- Two boys allege inappropriate touching on the set of “The Cleaning Lady.”
- Why it matters: The new claim could influence court proceedings and public perception of the case.
Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield will remain behind bars as he faces multiple counts of child sex abuse, and prosecutors have now disclosed an additional alleged incident involving a teenage girl years ago.
Busfield, 67, surrendered to Albuquerque police Tuesday after a warrant charged him with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child sex abuse. During a Wednesday hearing, Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Felicia Blea-Rivera ordered him detained without bond and scheduled a follow-up hearing within five business days.
New Allegation Emerges
In a seven-page detention motion filed Wednesday, New Mexico prosecutors outlined a previously unreported claim. A father told officers Tuesday that Busfield kissed his 16-year-old daughter and touched her intimate parts “several years ago” in California. The filing states Busfield “begged the family” to delay reporting the incident if he entered therapy. He has not been charged in connection with that allegation.
Busfield’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the prosecutors’ statements.
Accusations From the Set of “The Cleaning Lady”
The criminal case centers on two boys who allege Busfield inappropriately touched them while filming Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque. According to a 12-page complaint:
- One boy says the touching began when he was 7 years old and continued when he was 8.
- The alleged abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024.
- Both boys claim Busfield touched their intimate parts over clothing on multiple occasions.
The children are identified only by their initials in court documents.
Studio Investigation Found No Corroboration
Warner Bros., which co-produced the series, hired an outside law firm to investigate. Attorney Christina McGovern of Solomon Law concluded:
> “Based on what was alleged, and all evidence gathered, including multiple witness statements, I found no corroborating evidence that Mr. Busfield engaged in inappropriate conduct or that he was ever alone” with the accusers on set.
Busfield’s Statements to Investigators
In a November interview detailed in the complaint, Busfield suggested an actor on the show told him the boys’ mother was upset her children were not asked back for the final season and might be seeking revenge. The actor he named did not speak with investigators.
Busfield also told authorities he likely “picked up and tickled” the boys, describing the set as playful.
Family and Career Background
Busfield won an Emmy for his role on ABC’s “Thirtysomething” and played a reporter on NBC’s “The West Wing.” He is married to Melissa Gilbert, former Screen Actors Guild president and “Little House on the Prairie” star.
“Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time,” her representative, Ame Van Iden, said Tuesday, adding that Gilbert will make no further statements at the request of Busfield’s legal team.
Key Takeaways
- Busfield remains in custody and has not entered a plea.
- Prosecutors cited both the New Mexico charges and the California allegation in seeking detention.
- A studio investigation found no supporting evidence for the on-set claims.
- The next court hearing is set within five business days.
