Actor Timothy Busfield Appears in Court on Child Abuse Charges
Timothy Busfield made his first court appearance in New Mexico on Wednesday. The actor and director faces serious child sex abuse charges. A judge ordered him to remain in jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 29.
Details of the Allegations and Arrest
Busfield surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque on Tuesday. Police booked him into the Bernalillo County jail. The charges stem from incidents on the set of the Fox crime drama The Cleaning Lady. Busfield served as an executive producer and director for the show.
A criminal complaint outlines the accusations. It involves 11-year-old twin boys. They reported inappropriate contact over a two-year period. The alleged incidents occurred when the boys were aged 7 and 8. Production for the show took place in Albuquerque.
One boy described multiple instances of Busfield touching his private areas over clothing. This happened during pauses in production. His brother also reported being touched but provided fewer specifics.
Busfield's Response and Claims of Innocence
Shortly before turning himself in, Busfield posted a video online. In the 45-second clip, he firmly denied all allegations. He called the accusations lies and stated he would be exonerated.
I did not do anything to those little boys, Busfield said in the video. He expressed confidence in his eventual vindication.
During a police interview in November, Busfield acknowledged some physical contact with the boys. He described it as playful tickling or picking them up. He emphasized others were present during these interactions.
Potential Motive and Investigation Notes
The arrest warrant affidavit includes Busfield's theory about the allegations. He suggested the twins' mother sought revenge against him. According to Busfield, she was angry after producers decided to replace her sons in the show's final season.
Busfield claimed he learned this information from the show's star, Elodie Yung. However, Yung declined to be interviewed by police for their investigation. A private investigator for Warner Bros. Television previously questioned Yung. She reportedly relayed a similar account of the mother's vengeful intentions.
Background on Timothy Busfield
Busfield is best known for his role as a White House reporter on the NBC drama The West Wing. The show aired from 1999 to 2006. He also starred in the 1980s ABC series Thirtysomething as an ad agency executive. His film work includes the classic Field of Dreams.
He is married to actress Melissa Gilbert. Gilbert gained fame as a child star on Little House on the Prairie. She previously served as president of the Screen Actors Guild.
The case continues to develop as the legal process moves forward. The court will address the charges of child abuse and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the coming weeks.
