Timothy Busfield, the Emmy Award-winning actor and director known for his roles in "The West Wing," "Field of Dreams," and "Thirtysomething," is facing serious criminal charges in New Mexico after authorities issued an arrest warrant on January 10, 2026. Busfield, 68, stands accused of two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and an open count of child abuse, stemming from alleged incidents that took place on the set of the Fox series "The Cleaning Lady" between November 2022 and spring 2024, according to multiple reports including AP, Variety, and KOAT.
The allegations center on twin boys who were child actors on "The Cleaning Lady," a crime drama that aired for four seasons on Fox and concluded in 2025. According to court documents reviewed by Variety and TMZ, one of the boys reported that Busfield touched his "private areas" on set when he was seven years old, with additional incidents occurring when he was eight. The boy told investigators he was "very afraid of Tim and was relieved when he was off set." The complaint, filed by an Albuquerque Police Department investigator, states the child described being touched inappropriately three or four times at age seven and five or six times at age eight. The child’s mother reported the abuse to Child Protective Services, noting the incidents occurred between late 2022 and spring 2024.
The investigation began in November 2024 after the boys’ parents took them to the University of New Mexico Hospital, following a law firm’s recommendation. Hospital staff alerted police with concerns that children were being groomed on the set of the television show, as reported by KOAT. Initially, when police spoke to the boys at the hospital, neither disclosed sexual contact, but both mentioned that "Uncle Tim"—the name they used for Busfield—would tickle them on the stomach and legs, which they did not like. Later, in September 2025, one of the boys told his counselor and pediatrician that Busfield had touched him on his penis and bottom, according to the police affidavit cited by Variety.
The complaint further reveals the child has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, suffering nightmares about Busfield and waking up scared. The child reportedly feared telling anyone because Busfield was the director and he was afraid of repercussions. The other brother said he did not like being touched but kept quiet to avoid getting into trouble.
Busfield spoke to detectives by phone in November 2024, according to the affidavit. When asked if he had any physical contact with the boys, particularly picking them up or tickling them, Busfield responded, "It was highly likely that he would have," describing the set as a "playful environment." He elaborated that the boys’ parents would have been present, so it would not have been "weird." However, Busfield later backtracked, saying, "I don’t remember those boys. No, I don’t. I don’t actually, I don’t remember it, if it happened. I don’t remember overtly tickling the boys ever, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for me." These statements were reported by TMZ and Variety.
Busfield’s legal team and agent did not respond to requests for comment from reporters late Friday, and the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s office also declined to comment, according to Variety. Busfield is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, but her publicist did not respond to inquiries either.
Warner Bros., the studio behind "The Cleaning Lady," conducted its own internal investigation into the abuse allegations in 2025 after SAG-AFTRA received an anonymous complaint about a separate incident involving a different underaged boy. The outside investigator hired by Warner Bros. was unable to substantiate the claims. Nonetheless, police noted in their affidavit that Warner Bros. "made it very difficult to obtain information for this case." Detective Marvin Brown wrote that he had to obtain a search warrant to access the studio’s investigative report, which was not turned over until three months later. Furthermore, Warner Bros. required police to go through its lawyers to speak with employees, as detailed by Variety.
The police affidavit also notes that multiple witnesses reported the on-set special teacher, assigned to supervise the children, sometimes "lost sight" of them, raising further concerns about on-set safety. According to KOAT, the affidavit additionally mentions that Busfield has faced previous sexual assault allegations in 1994 and 2012, though no charges were filed in those cases.
Busfield himself suggested to investigators that the boys’ mother may have had a motive for the allegations, claiming she "wanted revenge" after her sons were not brought back for the show’s final season. He said his family had even bought the children Christmas gifts and saw them at social gatherings. The lead actress of the series, Elodie Yung, declined to participate in the police investigation, with the affidavit stating she "does not want to be involved in the investigation."
As of January 10, 2026, court records do not indicate that Busfield has been arrested, though a judge has signed the warrant for his arrest. Records show that Busfield has a residence in Albuquerque, but it remains unclear whether he lives there full-time.
Busfield’s career spans decades across television, film, and theater. He is best known for his roles as Danny Concannon in "The West Wing" and Arnold Poindexter in "Revenge of the Nerds." He won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for "Thirtysomething" in 1991. His directorial credits include several episodes of "Sports Night" and "The Cleaning Lady," the latter of which is at the center of the current allegations. Busfield has been married three times and is currently married to Melissa Gilbert, famed for her role in "Little House on the Prairie." He has three children from previous marriages.
As the legal process unfolds, the case has raised broader questions about child safety on television and film sets. The allegations and the studio’s response have prompted scrutiny of industry practices for supervising child actors and ensuring prompt, transparent cooperation with law enforcement. With a high-profile figure at the center and a major television studio involved, the story continues to develop, drawing national attention to the intersection of Hollywood, child protection, and the justice system.
For now, the entertainment world and the public await further developments as authorities seek to serve the arrest warrant and the courts prepare to address the allegations against Timothy Busfield.
