West Wing Actor Faces Four Counts of Criminal Sexual Contact With Child
A New Mexico grand jury indicted actor Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child Friday, marking a formal escalation in allegations that emerged from the set of the Fox series “The Cleaning Lady.”
The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office announced the indictment following Busfield’s January arrest. The actor, whose television and film career spans decades in productions including “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and the Emmy-winning series “Thirtysomething,” was initially held without bond before being released pending trial.
What Happened
According to police documents, a child reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately on multiple occasions while the boy was 7 and 8 years old on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” where Busfield both directed and acted. The alleged abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. The boy’s twin brother also told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where, citing fear of getting in trouble.
The complaint was filed after the boy’s mother sought hospital evaluation on the advice of an attorney. Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch told the court that the allegations are “supported by medical findings and by their therapist” and that the boys’ accounts “were specific and not exaggerated.”
The Defense
Busfield has consistently denied the allegations. His attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, stated in a court filing that the indictment was “fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial,” citing what he called “fatal weaknesses in the State’s evidence.” Busfield’s legal team contends the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their roles on the television series, suggesting a retaliatory motive from the family.
In a video shared before turning himself in, Busfield denied all charges. In his initial police interview, he described the set as a playful environment and said he would have tickled the boys while on set.
Investigation Findings
Warner Bros., the production company behind “The Cleaning Lady,” conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them. The series, which ran for four seasons on Fox, concluded in 2025.
A second allegation also surfaced in January. A father reported that Busfield kissed and inappropriately touched his then-16-year-old daughter during an audition at a California theater that Busfield co-founded. That incident allegedly occurred years earlier, and the father said Busfield asked the family not to report the incident if he received therapy.
Career Background
Busfield is best known for his recurring roles across acclaimed television and film productions throughout his career. His work on “Thirtysomething” earned him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991. He is married to actress Melissa Gilbert, who deactivated her Instagram account following the allegations and indicated through a publicist that she will not release statements while legal proceedings continue.
The case will be prosecuted by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit. A trial date has not yet been set, and Busfield’s legal team has indicated they plan to vigorously defend against the charges.
