At a Glance
- Timothy Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse in New Mexico
- Prosecutors mentioned an unrelated 25-year-old allegation involving a 16-year-old girl at a California theater
- B Street Theatre says Busfield has had no role since 2001 after an internal investigation
- Why it matters: The charges against the veteran actor span decades and multiple states, raising questions about oversight in entertainment environments
Timothy Busfield, 68, surrendered to Albuquerque police on January 13 and was charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse involving minors. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred while he worked as a director on the FOX series The Cleaning Lady in 2022.
New Mexico Charges
Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The alleged victims are 11-year-old twin boys he met while working on the television production.
According to the arrest warrant, one victim claimed the abuse began when he was 7 years old. The investigation started November 1, 2024, when a University of New Mexico Hospital doctor alerted police about alleged sexual abuse.
The alleged victims’ parents told investigators their children were minors when they met Busfield on set. Warner Bros. Television, which produces The Cleaning Lady, stated they prioritize cast and crew safety, especially for minors.
California Allegation Surfaces
During pretrial proceedings, prosecutors referenced an unrelated allegation from approximately 25 years ago. Colin Swift contacted law enforcement on January 13, reporting that Busfield allegedly sexually abused Swift’s daughter when she was 16.
The pretrial motion states the incident occurred at B Street Theatre in Sacramento, California, while the girl was auditioning for Busfield. The document alleges Busfield “kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”
The motion claims Busfield “begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy.” Swift, described as a therapist himself, reportedly agreed at the time.
Theater Company Response
B Street Theatre acknowledged the historical allegation in a January 14 statement to News Of Losangeles. The company confirmed it “retained legal counsel at the time to conduct an internal investigation” and that “Mr. Busfield has not had any role in the organization since 2001.”
The theater company stated Busfield “is not involved in our current operations, staff, leadership, or programming.” Though listed as an emeritus board member, he “has not participated in theatre governance or attended a board meeting since that time.”
B Street Theatre declined further comment, citing the active investigation into the New Mexico charges.
Legal Proceedings
Busfield appeared before a Bernalillo County judge on January 14 and remains held without bond. Prosecutors filed a motion seeking to keep him in custody pending trial. The judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for January 29.
In a video obtained by TMZ before his surrender, Busfield denied all allegations.
“I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it,” he stated. “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.”
Busfield claimed he “got the call Friday night” and drove “2,000 miles to Albuquerque” to “confront these lies.”
Family Response
Melissa Gilbert, Busfield’s wife, is maintaining silence during the legal proceedings. Her representative told News Of Losangeles she is “honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds.”
The statement added that Gilbert’s “focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment.” It concluded, “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
Investigation Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2024 | UNMH doctor alerts police about alleged abuse |
| January 9, 2025 | Arrest warrant issued |
| January 13, 2025 | Busfield surrenders to Albuquerque police |
| January 14, 2025 | Court appearance, detention motion filed |
| January 29, 2025 | Preliminary hearing scheduled |
Production Company Statement
Warner Bros. Television emphasized their commitment to safety protocols: “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.”
The company confirmed it “has been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement” regarding the investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Busfield faces serious charges involving multiple alleged victims across different decades
- The case spans two states with unrelated allegations surfacing during pretrial proceedings
- Both the production company and theater organization have distanced themselves from the actor
- Legal proceedings are ongoing with the actor remaining in custody pending trial
The investigation continues as prosecutors build their case for the January 29 preliminary hearing.
