Topline: The 68-year-old actor has been indicted on four felony counts related to the alleged abuse of 11-year-old twins.
Published: February 12, 2026 12:45 pm ET
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Timothy Busfield appears at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on Jan. 20, 2026 (via Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A grand jury indicted actor Timothy Busfield on Friday on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced the indictment against the 68-year-old actor, as reported by ABC News. Each of the four charges is a third-degree felony, according to court records.
Bregman stated that the case will proceed through the judicial process. In a statement posted by the Bernalillo County Grand Jury, the district attorney said the Special Victims Unit will prosecute the case and noted Busfield is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Busfield turned himself in to authorities on Jan. 13. The Albuquerque Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 9.
The warrant alleged that Busfield engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys. The parents of the minors told investigators the children met Busfield on the set of the television series “The Cleaning Lady,” according to Reuters.
Busfield served as a director on the show. The program ran from January 2022 until June 2025.
One of the alleged victims told investigators that the incidents began when he was 7 years old. A police warrant stated the children disclosed that the abuse occurred from approximately November 2022 to the spring of 2024.
The investigation began in November 2024. A doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police after the parents sought a medical evaluation for the children.
Busfield denied the accusations in a video message obtained by TMZ before his Jan. 13 surrender. He called the allegations lies and stated that he would be exonerated.
Stanton “Larry” Stein, a civil attorney for Busfield, said the indictment was not unexpected. He characterized the state’s evidence as having fatal weaknesses.
Stein stated that the defense looks forward to testing the case in open court. He said the prosecution is driven by factors other than the law or facts.
Busfield was released from custody on Jan. 20 following a pretrial detention hearing. A judge allowed him to remain free on his own recognizance with specific conditions.
The court ordered Busfield to appear for all future proceedings and prohibited him from possessing firearms or consuming alcohol and illegal drugs. He is also barred from contacting the alleged victims or their families and cannot have unsupervised contact with any minors.
The judge allowed Busfield to travel while under the supervision of Pretrial Services in New Mexico. His wife, Melissa Gilbert, attended the hearing and has expressed support for her husband.
Court documents filed Jan. 14 included an additional accusation against Busfield. A man reported to law enforcement that Busfield allegedly abused his daughter several years ago in Sacramento, California.
The arrest warrant also noted that Busfield faced prior sexual assault allegations in 1994. Stein stated those older allegations were never proved.
Busfield reportedly told police that the parents of the twin boys were upset because their sons were replaced on the television production. Warner Bros. notified Busfield they were investigating a complaint against him shortly after the parents spoke with authorities.
In court last month, Busfield’s attorney Christopher Dodd described the parents as “scam artists” seeking revenge after their sons were replaced in the cast. Dodd asserted that both boys denied they were sexually abused when first questioned by law enforcement.
Busfield will enter his plea at an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 16.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Timothy Busfield Indicted on Child Sexual Contact Charges
The 68-year-old actor has been indicted on four felony counts related to the alleged abuse of 11-year-old twins.
By Kate Byrd
Published: February 12, 2026 12:45 pm ET
Timothy Busfield appears at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on Jan. 20, 2026 (via Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A grand jury indicted actor Timothy Busfield on Friday on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced the indictment against the 68-year-old actor, as reported by ABC News. Each of the four charges is a third-degree felony, according to court records.
Bregman stated that the case will proceed through the judicial process. In a statement posted by the Bernalillo County Grand Jury, the district attorney said the Special Victims Unit will prosecute the case and noted Busfield is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Busfield turned himself in to authorities on Jan. 13. The Albuquerque Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 9.
The warrant alleged that Busfield engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys. The parents of the minors told investigators the children met Busfield on the set of the television series “The Cleaning Lady,” according to Reuters.
Busfield served as a director on the show. The program ran from January 2022 until June 2025.
One of the alleged victims told investigators that the incidents began when he was 7 years old. A police warrant stated the children disclosed that the abuse occurred from approximately November 2022 to the spring of 2024.
The investigation began in November 2024. A doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police after the parents sought a medical evaluation for the children.
Busfield denied the accusations in a video message obtained by TMZ before his Jan. 13 surrender. He called the allegations lies and stated that he would be exonerated.
Stanton “Larry” Stein, a civil attorney for Busfield, said the indictment was not unexpected. He characterized the state’s evidence as having fatal weaknesses.
Stein stated that the defense looks forward to testing the case in open court. He said the prosecution is driven by factors other than the law or facts.
Busfield was released from custody on Jan. 20 following a pretrial detention hearing. A judge allowed him to remain free on his own recognizance with specific conditions.
The court ordered Busfield to appear for all future proceedings and prohibited him from possessing firearms or consuming alcohol and illegal drugs. He is also barred from contacting the alleged victims or their families and cannot have unsupervised contact with any minors.
The judge allowed Busfield to travel while under the supervision of Pretrial Services in New Mexico. His wife, Melissa Gilbert, attended the hearing and has expressed support for her husband.
Court documents filed Jan. 14 included an additional accusation against Busfield. A man reported to law enforcement that Busfield allegedly abused his daughter several years ago in Sacramento, California.
The arrest warrant also noted that Busfield faced prior sexual assault allegations in 1994. Stein stated those older allegations were never proved.
Busfield reportedly told police that the parents of the twin boys were upset because their sons were replaced on the television production. Warner Bros. notified Busfield they were investigating a complaint against him shortly after the parents spoke with authorities.
In court last month, Busfield’s attorney Christopher Dodd described the parents as “scam artists” seeking revenge after their sons were replaced in the cast. Dodd asserted that both boys denied they were sexually abused when first questioned by law enforcement.
Busfield will enter his plea at an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 16.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Timothy Busfield Indicted on Child Sexual Contact Charges
The 68-year-old actor has been indicted on four felony counts related to the alleged abuse of 11-year-old twins.
By Kate Byrd
Published: February 12, 2026 12:45 pm ET
Timothy Busfield appears at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on Jan. 20, 2026 (via Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A grand jury indicted actor Timothy Busfield on Friday on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced the indictment against the 68-year-old actor, as reported by ABC News. Each of the four charges is a third-degree felony, according to court records.
Bregman stated that the case will proceed through the judicial process. In a statement posted by the Bernalillo County Grand Jury, the district attorney said the Special Victims Unit will prosecute the case and noted Busfield is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Busfield turned himself in to authorities on Jan. 13. The Albuquerque Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 9.
The warrant alleged that Busfield engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys. The parents of the minors told investigators the children met Busfield on the set of the television series “The Cleaning Lady,” according to Reuters.
Busfield served as a director on the show. The program ran from January 2022 until June 2025.
One of the alleged victims told investigators that the incidents began when he was 7 years old. A police warrant stated the children disclosed that the abuse occurred from approximately November 2022 to the spring of 2024.
The investigation began in November 2024. A doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police after the parents sought a medical evaluation for the children.
Busfield denied the accusations in a video message obtained by TMZ before his Jan. 13 surrender. He called the allegations lies and stated that he would be exonerated.
Stanton “Larry” Stein, a civil attorney for Busfield, said the indictment was not unexpected. He characterized the state’s evidence as having fatal weaknesses.
Stein stated that the defense looks forward to testing the case in open court. He said the prosecution is driven by factors other than the law or facts.
Busfield was released from custody on Jan. 20 following a pretrial detention hearing. A judge allowed him to remain free on his own recognizance with specific conditions.
The court ordered Busfield to appear for all future proceedings and prohibited him from possessing firearms or consuming alcohol and illegal drugs. He is also barred from contacting the alleged victims or their families and cannot have unsupervised contact with any minors.
The judge allowed Busfield to travel while under the supervision of Pretrial Services in New Mexico. His wife, Melissa Gilbert, attended the hearing and has expressed support for her husband.
Court documents filed Jan. 14 included an additional accusation against Busfield. A man reported to law enforcement that Busfield allegedly abused his daughter several years ago in Sacramento, California.
The arrest warrant also noted that Busfield faced prior sexual assault allegations in 1994. Stein stated those older allegations were never proved.
Busfield reportedly told police that the parents of the twin boys were upset because their sons were replaced on the television production. Warner Bros. notified Busfield they were investigating a complaint against him shortly after the parents spoke with authorities.
In court last month, Busfield’s attorney Christopher Dodd described the parents as “scam artists” seeking revenge after their sons were replaced in the cast. Dodd asserted that both boys denied they were sexually abused when first questioned by law enforcement.
Busfield will enter his plea at an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 16.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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