ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Timothy Busfield, an established director and Emmy Award-winning actor, has been taken into custody in New Mexico to face charges of child sex abuse. The allegations prompted an arrest warrant issued by the Albuquerque authorities for Busfield, who is accused of inappropriately touching a young boy during his time directing the television show 'The Cleaning Lady'.
The charges consist of two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. According to a criminal complaint filed, the boy reported that he was just 7 years old when the inappropriate behavior began, with incidents occurring multiple times over the years. The boy’s twin brother has also come forward, indicating he too was subjected to similar conduct.
The investigative process was initiated when a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted Child Protective Services regarding the boys, leading to a formal inquiry. The abuse is said to have taken place between November 2022 and spring 2024, as per reports from the children's mother, whose identity remains confidential in court documents.
During the investigation, Busfield denied any wrongdoing, even suggesting that the children's mother might have ulterior motives related to the boys' roles on the series. He described the filming environment as playful, which might have contributed to misunderstandings.
The trauma from the alleged incidents has reportedly affected one of the boys, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and experiences nightmares related to the occurrences with Busfield.
Warner Bros, the production company behind 'The Cleaning Lady', conducted its own investigation but couldn’t substantiate the allegations against Busfield.
Busfield, well-known for his work in various television series and films, including 'Field of Dreams' and 'Thirtysomething', is currently married to fellow actor Melissa Gilbert. His career achievements highlight his longstanding presence in the entertainment industry, further complicating the narrative surrounding these serious allegations.
The charges consist of two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. According to a criminal complaint filed, the boy reported that he was just 7 years old when the inappropriate behavior began, with incidents occurring multiple times over the years. The boy’s twin brother has also come forward, indicating he too was subjected to similar conduct.
The investigative process was initiated when a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted Child Protective Services regarding the boys, leading to a formal inquiry. The abuse is said to have taken place between November 2022 and spring 2024, as per reports from the children's mother, whose identity remains confidential in court documents.
During the investigation, Busfield denied any wrongdoing, even suggesting that the children's mother might have ulterior motives related to the boys' roles on the series. He described the filming environment as playful, which might have contributed to misunderstandings.
The trauma from the alleged incidents has reportedly affected one of the boys, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and experiences nightmares related to the occurrences with Busfield.
Warner Bros, the production company behind 'The Cleaning Lady', conducted its own investigation but couldn’t substantiate the allegations against Busfield.
Busfield, well-known for his work in various television series and films, including 'Field of Dreams' and 'Thirtysomething', is currently married to fellow actor Melissa Gilbert. His career achievements highlight his longstanding presence in the entertainment industry, further complicating the narrative surrounding these serious allegations.
