Emmy-Winning Actor Timothy Busfield Held Without Bond in New Mexico Child Sexual Abuse Case
Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield appeared in a New Mexico court on Wednesday, 14th January,2026, following his arrest in connection with allegations of child abuse. The actor, known for roles in The West Wing, Field of Dreams, and Thirtysomething, turned himself in to authorities a day earlier and was ordered held without bond.
Busfield appeared remotely from jail via video link during the brief hearing. A detention hearing is scheduled for next week to determine whether he will remain in custody pending trial.
Albuquerque police issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest last week on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The allegations reportedly involve incidents on the set of the TV series The Cleaning Lady, filmed in Albuquerque, where Busfield served as a director.
Busfield has denied all allegations. His attorney, Larry Stein, said he voluntarily submitted to an independent polygraph examination regarding the claims and passed. In a pre-arrest video, Busfield called the allegations “false” and vowed to fight the charges.
Prosecutors are seeking to keep Busfield in custody, citing what they describe as a “history of alleged misconduct” and asserting that his position of authority makes it difficult to ensure the safety of potential witnesses and the public. They also referenced an additional allegation reported the same day Busfield turned himself in, involving a separate incident years ago at a theater he co-founded in Sacramento, California.
The criminal complaint indicates that the alleged victims were young boys on the set of the television series. Investigators say the children were hesitant to report the incidents at the time due to Busfield’s authority on set. The case came to light after a medical professional contacted authorities in late 2024, prompting an investigation that included interviews with family members and other witnesses.
During Wednesday’s court appearance, Busfield remained silent while his attorney addressed the judge. Prosecutors filed a motion outlining concerns that Busfield’s influence and public profile could interfere with the legal process. They also criticized a video Busfield shared with a media outlet prior to his court appearance, claiming it prioritized public relations over compliance with the judicial process.
Busfield’s attorney maintains that internal investigations conducted by Warner Bros. were unable to corroborate the allegations. The actor’s publicist for his spouse, actress Melissa Gilbert, confirmed she is not making public statements at this time and urged the public to disregard online speculation, including AI-generated content.
Following the arrest, Busfield was dropped by his Hollywood agency, Innovative Artists. Authorities continue to investigate the allegations, and a court date has been set for the detention hearing next week.
Source of Image: Getty Images
