Timothy Busfield, the Emmy-winning actor already facing child sex-abuse charges in New Mexico, is now accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl in California several years ago, court filings show.
At a Glance
- Prosecutors say the girl’s father reported Busfield kissed her and touched intimate parts.
- Busfield allegedly begged the family to delay reporting if he entered therapy.
- He has not been charged in connection with the California claim.
- The revelation comes hours before his first court appearance on separate charges involving two boys on a TV set.
The new allegation surfaced in a seven-page document filed Wednesday by New Mexico prosecutors ahead of Busfield’s initial hearing on unrelated charges that he inappropriately touched two child actors filming “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque.
New California Claim Emerges
According to the filing, detectives received the report Tuesday from the alleged victim’s father. He claims that Busfield kissed his daughter and touched her intimate parts when she was 16. The incidents are said to have happened “several years ago.”
The filing states Busfield pleaded with the family to postpone going to authorities, promising to seek therapy. Prosecutors included the information as part of their argument to keep the actor detained while the New Mexico case proceeds.
Busfield has not been charged in California, and his attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
Separate Charges in New Mexico
Hours after the new claim became public, Busfield appeared in an Albuquerque courtroom to face charges stemming from allegations by two boys who worked with him on the Fox series.
- Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor
- One count of child sex abuse
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said his office will ask that Busfield remain jailed pending trial.
Alleged Abuse on Set
The boys, identified only by initials, allege Busfield touched them inappropriately multiple times while filming in Albuquerque between November 2022 and spring 2024.
One boy told police the first incident occurred when he was 7 years old and was repeated when he was 8. The complaint states the contact happened over clothing and involved intimate areas.
In an interview with investigators last November, Busfield suggested the boys’ mother was angry because her sons were not asked back for the show’s final season and might be seeking revenge. The actor he referenced never spoke to investigators, according to the complaint.
Busfield admitted he likely picked up and tickled the boys, describing the set as playful.
Studio Investigation Found No Proof
Warner Bros., which co-produced the series, hired an outside law firm to investigate. Attorney Christina McGovern 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.”
Career and Personal Life
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 actress Melissa Gilbert, former president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Gilbert’s representative, Ame Van Iden, said Tuesday:
> “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
No further statements will be made at the request of Busfield’s legal team.
Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued. He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and released ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.
