Topline: The 68-year-old actor and director turned himself in at an Albuquerque jail days after a warrant was issued alleging abuse of two child actors on the set of a Fox television series.
Published: January 13, 2026 8:42 pm ET
Must Read
Timothy Busfield (via Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Emmy-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield is in custody in New Mexico after turning himself in to authorities amid allegations that he sexually abused two child actors while working on the Fox drama “The Cleaning Lady.”
A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed Tuesday that Busfield, 68, surrendered at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where jail records show he was booked around 2:30 p.m. He is being held without bail, according to online court records.
A New Mexico judge issued an arrest warrant Friday charging Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, according to court documents. The charges stem from allegations involving two brothers who appeared as child actors on the series while Busfield was directing, authorities said.
Police said they were initially unable to locate Busfield after the warrant was issued, prompting the U.S. Marshals Service to join the search earlier Tuesday, according to NBC News. Busfield surrendered himself less than a day after reports emerged of the marshals’ involvement.
Busfield has publicly denied the allegations. In a video published by TMZ, the actor said, “I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.” He added, “They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys,” and predicted, “I’m gonna be exonerated.” In the same video, Busfield said he learned of the arrest warrant Friday, obtained legal counsel and then “got in a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.”
His attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, said Busfield was not attempting to evade authorities and had asked police to allow him to turn himself in without an arrest warrant, a request Stein said was declined, according to NBC News. “He wants to turn himself in because he wants to clear his name and reputation,” Stein said. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the boys’ mother reported the alleged abuse to New Mexico’s child protective services in October 2025, saying it occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. Police opened an investigation in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital notified authorities of suspected abuse, court records show.
Court documents cited by KOAT-TV state that hospital staff told police it appeared the children may have been groomed. The records note that while the children did not initially disclose sexual contact during their hospital visit, they later told interviewers that Busfield touched them inappropriately over their clothing while on set. One child told police he was first touched when he was 7 years old and again when he was 8, according to the criminal complaint cited by NBC News.
Busfield spoke with investigators in November and suggested the boys’ mother was motivated by anger after her children were not brought back for a subsequent season of the show, according to interview transcripts referenced in court filings. “I don’t remember it… If it happened, I don’t remember… But it wouldn’t be uncommon for me,” Busfield told investigators, according to KOAT. He also said his family had bought the children Christmas gifts and socialized with them outside of work, the station reported.
An affidavit in the case details a separate, anonymous complaint made through the SAG-AFTRA hotline in February 2025 alleging Busfield kissed a minor on the face in a hair and makeup trailer in December 2024 and that there were photos of him “tickling and caressing the head and body of minor boys,” according to documents cited by the Los Angeles Times.
Warner Bros. Television, which produces “The Cleaning Lady,” commissioned an independent investigation into that complaint in spring 2025. The company said the allegations could not be substantiated, according to court records and statements cited by the Los Angeles Times and NBC News. Christina McGovern, the workplace investigator retained by Warner Bros., said, “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.”
Fox and Warner Bros. Television said Sunday that they prioritize the safety of cast and crew and are cooperating with law enforcement, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Stein said Tuesday that Busfield is “determined to clear his name” and described the case as “a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact,” despite prior investigations that found no evidence of wrongdoing. “The claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails,” Stein said.
The affidavit also notes that Busfield faced sexual assault allegations in 1994 and 2012, though no charges were filed in either case, according to KOAT and the Los Angeles Times.
Busfield is best known for his roles on “Thirtysomething” and “The West Wing,” and he won an Emmy Award in 1991 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for “Thirtysomething.”
As the allegations became public, Busfield’s wife, actor Melissa Gilbert, removed her Instagram account, according to NBC News and the Los Angeles Times. Her publicist, Ame Van Iden, said Tuesday that Gilbert would not comment publicly at this time. “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment,” Van Iden said, adding that Gilbert “stands with and supports her husband.”
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 Picks
Latest Articles
Emmy-Winning Actor Timothy Busfield Surrenders in Child Sex Abuse Case
The 68-year-old actor and director turned himself in at an Albuquerque jail days after a warrant was issued alleging abuse of two child actors on the set of a Fox television series.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 13, 2026 8:42 pm ET
Timothy Busfield (via Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Emmy-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield is in custody in New Mexico after turning himself in to authorities amid allegations that he sexually abused two child actors while working on the Fox drama “The Cleaning Lady.”
A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed Tuesday that Busfield, 68, surrendered at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where jail records show he was booked around 2:30 p.m. He is being held without bail, according to online court records.
A New Mexico judge issued an arrest warrant Friday charging Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, according to court documents. The charges stem from allegations involving two brothers who appeared as child actors on the series while Busfield was directing, authorities said.
Police said they were initially unable to locate Busfield after the warrant was issued, prompting the U.S. Marshals Service to join the search earlier Tuesday, according to NBC News. Busfield surrendered himself less than a day after reports emerged of the marshals’ involvement.
Busfield has publicly denied the allegations. In a video published by TMZ, the actor said, “I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.” He added, “They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys,” and predicted, “I’m gonna be exonerated.” In the same video, Busfield said he learned of the arrest warrant Friday, obtained legal counsel and then “got in a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.”
His attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, said Busfield was not attempting to evade authorities and had asked police to allow him to turn himself in without an arrest warrant, a request Stein said was declined, according to NBC News. “He wants to turn himself in because he wants to clear his name and reputation,” Stein said. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the boys’ mother reported the alleged abuse to New Mexico’s child protective services in October 2025, saying it occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. Police opened an investigation in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital notified authorities of suspected abuse, court records show.
Court documents cited by KOAT-TV state that hospital staff told police it appeared the children may have been groomed. The records note that while the children did not initially disclose sexual contact during their hospital visit, they later told interviewers that Busfield touched them inappropriately over their clothing while on set. One child told police he was first touched when he was 7 years old and again when he was 8, according to the criminal complaint cited by NBC News.
Busfield spoke with investigators in November and suggested the boys’ mother was motivated by anger after her children were not brought back for a subsequent season of the show, according to interview transcripts referenced in court filings. “I don’t remember it… If it happened, I don’t remember… But it wouldn’t be uncommon for me,” Busfield told investigators, according to KOAT. He also said his family had bought the children Christmas gifts and socialized with them outside of work, the station reported.
An affidavit in the case details a separate, anonymous complaint made through the SAG-AFTRA hotline in February 2025 alleging Busfield kissed a minor on the face in a hair and makeup trailer in December 2024 and that there were photos of him “tickling and caressing the head and body of minor boys,” according to documents cited by the Los Angeles Times.
Warner Bros. Television, which produces “The Cleaning Lady,” commissioned an independent investigation into that complaint in spring 2025. The company said the allegations could not be substantiated, according to court records and statements cited by the Los Angeles Times and NBC News. Christina McGovern, the workplace investigator retained by Warner Bros., said, “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.”
Fox and Warner Bros. Television said Sunday that they prioritize the safety of cast and crew and are cooperating with law enforcement, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Stein said Tuesday that Busfield is “determined to clear his name” and described the case as “a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact,” despite prior investigations that found no evidence of wrongdoing. “The claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails,” Stein said.
The affidavit also notes that Busfield faced sexual assault allegations in 1994 and 2012, though no charges were filed in either case, according to KOAT and the Los Angeles Times.
Busfield is best known for his roles on “Thirtysomething” and “The West Wing,” and he won an Emmy Award in 1991 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for “Thirtysomething.”
As the allegations became public, Busfield’s wife, actor Melissa Gilbert, removed her Instagram account, according to NBC News and the Los Angeles Times. Her publicist, Ame Van Iden, said Tuesday that Gilbert would not comment publicly at this time. “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment,” Van Iden said, adding that Gilbert “stands with and supports her husband.”
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
Emmy-Winning Actor Timothy Busfield Surrenders in Child Sex Abuse Case
The 68-year-old actor and director turned himself in at an Albuquerque jail days after a warrant was issued alleging abuse of two child actors on the set of a Fox television series.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 13, 2026 8:42 pm ET
Timothy Busfield (via Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center)
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Emmy-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield is in custody in New Mexico after turning himself in to authorities amid allegations that he sexually abused two child actors while working on the Fox drama “The Cleaning Lady.”
A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed Tuesday that Busfield, 68, surrendered at the Metropolitan Detention Center, where jail records show he was booked around 2:30 p.m. He is being held without bail, according to online court records.
A New Mexico judge issued an arrest warrant Friday charging Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, according to court documents. The charges stem from allegations involving two brothers who appeared as child actors on the series while Busfield was directing, authorities said.
Police said they were initially unable to locate Busfield after the warrant was issued, prompting the U.S. Marshals Service to join the search earlier Tuesday, according to NBC News. Busfield surrendered himself less than a day after reports emerged of the marshals’ involvement.
Busfield has publicly denied the allegations. In a video published by TMZ, the actor said, “I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.” He added, “They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys,” and predicted, “I’m gonna be exonerated.” In the same video, Busfield said he learned of the arrest warrant Friday, obtained legal counsel and then “got in a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.”
His attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, said Busfield was not attempting to evade authorities and had asked police to allow him to turn himself in without an arrest warrant, a request Stein said was declined, according to NBC News. “He wants to turn himself in because he wants to clear his name and reputation,” Stein said. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the boys’ mother reported the alleged abuse to New Mexico’s child protective services in October 2025, saying it occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. Police opened an investigation in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital notified authorities of suspected abuse, court records show.
Court documents cited by KOAT-TV state that hospital staff told police it appeared the children may have been groomed. The records note that while the children did not initially disclose sexual contact during their hospital visit, they later told interviewers that Busfield touched them inappropriately over their clothing while on set. One child told police he was first touched when he was 7 years old and again when he was 8, according to the criminal complaint cited by NBC News.
Busfield spoke with investigators in November and suggested the boys’ mother was motivated by anger after her children were not brought back for a subsequent season of the show, according to interview transcripts referenced in court filings. “I don’t remember it… If it happened, I don’t remember… But it wouldn’t be uncommon for me,” Busfield told investigators, according to KOAT. He also said his family had bought the children Christmas gifts and socialized with them outside of work, the station reported.
An affidavit in the case details a separate, anonymous complaint made through the SAG-AFTRA hotline in February 2025 alleging Busfield kissed a minor on the face in a hair and makeup trailer in December 2024 and that there were photos of him “tickling and caressing the head and body of minor boys,” according to documents cited by the Los Angeles Times.
Warner Bros. Television, which produces “The Cleaning Lady,” commissioned an independent investigation into that complaint in spring 2025. The company said the allegations could not be substantiated, according to court records and statements cited by the Los Angeles Times and NBC News. Christina McGovern, the workplace investigator retained by Warner Bros., said, “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.”
Fox and Warner Bros. Television said Sunday that they prioritize the safety of cast and crew and are cooperating with law enforcement, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Stein said Tuesday that Busfield is “determined to clear his name” and described the case as “a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact,” despite prior investigations that found no evidence of wrongdoing. “The claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails,” Stein said.
The affidavit also notes that Busfield faced sexual assault allegations in 1994 and 2012, though no charges were filed in either case, according to KOAT and the Los Angeles Times.
Busfield is best known for his roles on “Thirtysomething” and “The West Wing,” and he won an Emmy Award in 1991 for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for “Thirtysomething.”
As the allegations became public, Busfield’s wife, actor Melissa Gilbert, removed her Instagram account, according to NBC News and the Los Angeles Times. Her publicist, Ame Van Iden, said Tuesday that Gilbert would not comment publicly at this time. “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment,” Van Iden said, adding that Gilbert “stands with and supports her husband.”
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
