Actor Timothy Busfield has made his first court appearance after turning himself in on criminal charges that he allegedly sexually abused two boys on the set of a TV series filmed in New Mexico, prosecutors say.
The Emmy-winning actor, who starred in Thirtysomething and The West Wing, was taken into custody in Albuquerque on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse that police allege happened on the set of Fox's crime drama The Cleaning Lady.
Busfield, 68, strenuously denied the allegations through his lawyer.
The claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails, said his attorney, Stanton Larry Stein.
Stein claims the accusations are acts of revenge after the children were terminated from the series, which angered their mother.
During a media conference on Thursday, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman stated that Busfield made an initial court appearance and a judge ordered him to remain in custody. The case is being transferred to district court, with a hearing to determine bail set for January 20.
The parents of the boys allege that Busfield groomed and sexually abused them while working on set, referring to him as Uncle Tim. Court documents reveal detailed instances of abuse, with allegations that Busfield touched the boys inappropriately over several years.
One of the boys claimed he been touched inappropriately starting at age 7 and has since suffered from nightmares and anxiety, diagnosed with PTSD.
Days before his arrest, Busfield traveled 2,000 miles to surrender, declaring in a video that he would fight the charges and maintain his innocence. Stein referred to the allegations as a calculated act of revenge.
New allegations of misconduct surfaced as well, including accusations involving a 16-year-old girl connected to a theater Busfield co-founded. The prosecution filed motions seeking to prevent Busfield's release, citing a documented pattern of misconduct.
Warner Bros Television and Fox, involved in the production of The Cleaning Lady, stated they are aware of the charges and prioritize the safety of their cast and crew. Busfield's wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, is reportedly supporting him but has chosen to remain silent publicly as legal proceedings unfold.
