At a Glance
- Timothy Busfield, 68, faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse
- Prosecutors will ask a judge to keep him jailed until trial under New Mexico’s no-bond detention rule
- The charges stem from alleged abuse of 11-year-old twin boys who met him on the set of The Cleaning Lady
- Why it matters: The case involves a well-known TV actor-director and raises concerns about child safety on production sets
Actor-director Timothy Busfield has been formally charged with sexually abusing two child actors who worked with him on the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, according to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors intend to seek pretrial detention, meaning the 68-year-old could remain behind bars until his case is resolved.
Charges Filed After Surrender
Bernalillo District Attorney Sam Bregman announced the charges in a January 13 Facebook post, hours after Busfield surrendered to authorities. The actor is charged with:
- Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13)
- One count of child abuse
“He is currently in custody at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center,” the statement said. A judge will decide later this week whether Busfield stays jailed or is released on recognizance.
Timeline of Allegations
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 2022-Spring 2024 | Alleged abuse period, per mother’s 2025 police report |
| Dec 2024 | Warner Bros. documents claim of on-set kiss in hair-and-makeup trailer |
| Jan 9, 2025 | Albuquerque Police issue arrest warrant |
| Jan 13, 2025 | Busfield surrenders; charges filed |
The investigation began in November 2024 after a University of New Mexico Hospital doctor alerted police. The boys’ parents, advised by an attorney, took them to UNMH where professionals said the children “were groomed,” according to the warrant.
Victims’ Accounts
The twin boys, now 11, told authorities the abuse started when they were 7. One victim’s therapist diagnosed moderate PTSD, anxiety, bed-wetting and nightmares. The child said Busfield “touched and rubbed his penis 3 or 4 times” and that he delayed reporting it because he “did not want to be mean” to the actor.
A Warner Bros. internal report, cited in the warrant, describes an incident in December 2024 when Busfield allegedly “entered and kissed a minor male on the face as the minor was getting a haircut.” Investigative officer Marvin Brown wrote that “pedophiles often infiltrate families under a trusted role…exploited the hectic film sets to tickle and touch [the victim].”
Busfield Responds
In a video obtained by TMZ, Busfield denied the allegations:
> “I did not do anything wrong…They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it…this is all so wrong and all lies.”
He said he drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque after receiving the warrant call Friday night and hired an attorney before surrendering.
Wife Melissa Gilbert Stays Silent
Actress Melissa Gilbert’s representative, Ame Van Iden, told News Of Losangeles:
> “Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time…She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds…Melissa stands with and supports her husband.”
The rep warned that AI-generated deepfakes purporting to be Gilbert “should not be treated as coming from her.”
Studio Reaction
Warner Bros. Television told News Of Losangeles:
> “The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors…We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate.”
The series The Cleaning Lady ran from January 2022 to June 2025. The boys were reportedly replaced by a younger actor, prompting the parents’ complaint to the studio.
Prior Allegations
The warrant notes Busfield faced sexual-assault allegations in 1994, though details of that case were not disclosed.
Next Steps
Busfield’s detention hearing is expected before the week’s end. If the DA’s motion is granted, he will remain in custody; if denied, he could be released with or without conditions under New Mexico’s no-bond rule.
Key Takeaways
- Prosecutors moved quickly to file formal charges and seek pretrial detention
- Alleged victims were child actors who met Busfield on a FOX series set
- Warner Bros. conducted an internal investigation before police became involved
- Busfield publicly denies all accusations and vows to fight the charges
