Timothy Busfield, the veteran actor known for major television roles, surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque after an arrest warrant was issued accusing him of child sex abuse. The 68-year-old made the long trip by car, logging more than 2,000 miles to meet investigators face to face.
A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed his arrival, saying, “Timothy Busfield has turned himself in at the Metro Detention Center. He will be booked on his warrant.”
Busfield Releases A Video Denying The Allegations
Shortly before turning himself in, Busfield appeared in a video where he forcefully rejected the accusations. His message was emotional, defensive, and determined.
“Hi everybody, it’s Tim. I’m sure most of you know, that are watching this, that I was ordered to come to Albuquerque, I’m here now,” he said. “I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer. Saturday I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.”
He remained adamant, adding, “They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it. I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”
His message ended with gratitude for his supporters. “So hang in there, and hopefully I’m out real soon and back to work. I love everybody for supporting me, thank you.”
Federal Authorities Step In
Before Busfield arrived in New Mexico, federal officials had joined the search. The U.S. Marshals Service was assisting in efforts to locate him, and local officials confirmed they were coordinating closely.
“Albuquerque Police Department is working with the U.S. Marshal Service to get Mr. Busfield into custody,” a department spokesperson said.
Background: Allegations Emerge From TV Set
The arrest warrant, issued January 9, stems from accusations involving two boys who appeared on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” a series Busfield worked on as both a director and actor. According to police, the alleged inappropriate touching occurred several times when one child was 7, and several more times at age 8.
A studio representative responded formally to the situation, saying, “The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”
Investigation Began After Hospital Report
The case originated in November 2024 when a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police to a possible sexual abuse incident. Investigators later interviewed two 11-year-old twins who said they had been told to call the actor “Uncle Tim” on set.
One of the boys reported being touched over his clothing while alone with Busfield. Hospital staff reportedly told the parents that the children displayed signs of being “groomed.”
Additional statements described Busfield tickling the boys “on the stomach and legs” during filming days. One of the boys, according to the warrant, was later diagnosed with moderate PTSD.
The child also said he had been “having nightmares about the director touching him and waking up scared,” and claimed Busfield “had touched and rubbed his penis 3 or 4 times and appeared to be ashamed.”
Busfield Responds To Investigators
Before his arrest, Busfield told investigators that the boys’ parents wanted “revenge” because their children were replaced by another young actor. He acknowledged he may have picked the children up on set, saying it was part of creating a “playful” atmosphere.
“There would never be a weird moment about it,” he said. “I don’t really remember picking those boys up. I remember picking up the boy who followed them. I’d pick him up, and he’d be giggling, and that would sort of get him ready to act.”
He also explained that he and his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, had known the family socially and had bought the boys Christmas gifts in the past.
Witness Claims And Additional Evidence
Investigators interviewed multiple people, including a witness who claimed to have seen Busfield kiss a minor on the face inside a hair and makeup trailer.
One officer summarized the allegations in the warrant by writing, “In my training and experience, pedophiles often infiltrate families under a trusted role, like Timothy, who, as a producer, exploited the hectic film sets to tickle and touch SL on his penis and buttocks, masking it as play.”
Gilbert Remains Supportive Amid Turmoil
Melissa Gilbert, the actor’s wife, reportedly deleted her social media account after the warrant became public. Her representative issued a statement saying she would not be speaking publicly and urged people to disregard any impersonated comments or AI-generated content.
“Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time. Any purported ‘statements’ circulating online, including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’, should not be treated as coming from her,” the representative said. “She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds. During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”
The couple has been married since 2013.
Legal Team Says Allegations Are Retaliatory
Busfield’s attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, released a firm statement defending the actor’s innocence and criticizing the origins of the allegations.
“This morning, Tim voluntarily appeared before New Mexico authorities after traveling across the country to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations. He is innocent and is determined to clear his name.”
Stein also highlighted a reference from the complaint itself. “As reflected in the criminal complaint, after her son was terminated from the show, the boy’s mother vowed to ‘get her revenge against Timothy Busfield.’ What followed appears to be a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact, despite prior investigations finding no evidence of wrongdoing.”
He added, “The claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails.”
Stein included a statement from the independent investigator hired by Warner Brothers. Christina McGovern said, “I conducted an independent and thorough investigation of all allegations known to the Studio at the time. Warner Bros. gave me full discretion as to my investigation. 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.”
