Timothy Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police on January 13 after being charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
At a Glance
- Busfield is accused of unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys he met on the set of The Cleaning Lady
- The boys’ mother allegedly vowed revenge after her son was terminated from the show
- An independent Warner Bros. investigator found no corroborating evidence of misconduct
- Busfield and his legal team insist the allegations are false and motivated by animus
- Wife Melissa Gilbert supports her husband and will speak publicly “at an appropriate time”
The Emmy-winning actor, director, and husband of actress Melissa Gilbert voluntarily traveled across the country to face what his attorney calls “false and deeply troubling allegations.”
Surrender and Charges
According to Gilbert Gallegos, Director of Communications for Albuquerque Police Department, Busfield turned himself in at the Metro Detention Center on Tuesday morning.
- Charges: two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, one count of child abuse
- Alleged victims: 11-year-old twin boys
- Location of alleged incidents: the set of FOX’s The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield directed during season 2 (aired 2022)
- Arrest trigger: parents told investigators the boys met Busfield on set
Defense Response
Stanton “Larry” Stein, Busfield’s civil attorney, issued a statement obtained by News Of Losangeles emphasizing his client’s cooperation and innocence.
> “Tim voluntarily appeared before New Mexico authorities after traveling across the country to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations,” Stein said.
Stein highlighted a motive, citing the arrest warrant: “After her son was terminated from the show, the boy’s mother vowed to ‘get her revenge against Timothy Busfield.’ What followed appears to be a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact, despite prior investigations finding no evidence of wrongdoing.”
Studio Investigation
News Of Losangeles also received a statement from Christina McGovern, the independent outside investigator retained by Warner Bros. Television.
> “I conducted an independent and thorough investigation of all allegations known to the Studio at the time. Warner Bros. gave me full discretion as to my investigation. 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 twins on set.”
Warner Bros. Television previously told News Of Losangeles: “The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action.”
Video Denial
In a video obtained by TMZ, Busfield reiterated his innocence.
> “Hi everybody, it’s Tim. I’m sure most of you know, that are watching this, that I was ordered to come to Albuquerque – I’m here now. I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer. Saturday I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.”
He continued:
> “They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it. I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies. So hang in there, and hopefully I’m out real soon and back to work. I love everybody for supporting me, thank you.”
Family Support
Melissa Gilbert’s representative, Ame Van Iden, told News Of Losangeles the actress “will not [be] making public statements at this time,” but “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
Key Takeaways
- Busfield faces serious felony charges but surrendered voluntarily and pledges to fight the allegations
- An outside investigator hired by the studio found no evidence supporting the claims
- The case includes allegations of revenge by a parent whose child lost a job on the series
- Both Busfield and his wife remain publicly united while legal proceedings continue
Anyone suspecting child abuse can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential, and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
