An arrest warrant has been issued for veteran US actor and director Timothy Busfield following a police investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse involving two young male actors.
The Allegations and Police Investigation
According to documents from the Albuquerque Police Department in New Mexico, obtained by Variety, Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The identities of the two alleged victims have been withheld for their protection.
The police affidavit states that an investigation was opened on 1 November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted authorities that the boys showed signs of having been groomed. One of the children was reportedly just seven years old when the alleged abuse began.
The parents of the children told investigating officer Marvin Kirk Brown that their sons met the 68-year-old actor on the set of the Fox and Warner Bros TV drama The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield worked as a director. The show ran from January 2022 until June of last year.
Details from the Arrest Warrant
The warrant alleges that Busfield, who is married to actress Melissa Gilbert, encouraged the boys to call him "Uncle Tim" and that he "grew closer to the boys" during the production. It is claimed he would tickle them on the stomach and legs.
In a forensic interview last autumn, one boy alleged that Busfield had touched him inappropriately "five to six times" over his clothing, including his private areas. The child, now 10, was subsequently diagnosed by a therapist with moderate post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, reportedly suffering nightmares about the director.
The warrant further states the boy claimed Busfield "had touched and rubbed his penis three or four times" and appeared ashamed. The child told authorities he initially withheld details because he did not want to be mean to Busfield and feared the director would "get mad at him," adding he was "very afraid of Tim and was relieved when he was off set."
Busfield's Response and Potential Fallout
When questioned by police, Busfield reportedly suggested the boys' parents "had a problem" because their children were not invited back for the next season of the show. He claimed an actress told him the mother "wanted revenge."
Busfield admitted it was "highly likely" he would have picked up or tickled the boys to foster a "playful environment," but later stated he didn't "remember overtly tickling the boys ever." He noted he and his wife had a relationship with the family outside of work, including buying Christmas gifts and attending social functions.
The investigating officer wrote in the warrant that in his experience, "paedophiles often infiltrate families under a trusted role," alleging Busfield exploited the hectic film set to mask abuse as play.
In a statement to Metro, Warner Bros. Television said: "The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority... We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement."
If found guilty of the charges, Busfield could face a minimum of three years in prison. It is currently unclear if he has been arrested by Albuquerque police.
The Emmy-winning actor, best known for his role as Danny Concannon on The West Wing, has also appeared in Field of Dreams, Thirtysomething, and more recently Amazon Prime's Citadel. He is due to appear in the upcoming rom-com You Deserve Each Other.
