Emmy award-winning actor Timothy Busfield, 68, has turned himself in to police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on serious child sex abuse allegations, following a contentious four-day period during which he was labelled a fugitive. His legal team vehemently disputes this characterisation, stating he was driving across the United States to surrender because he was prohibited from flying.
Cross-Country Surrender and Contested 'Fugitive' Status
Busfield surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque on Tuesday, just four days after an arrest warrant was issued. His lawyer, Larry Stein, told local media that his client was driving approximately 2,000 miles from upstate New York after a judge denied a request to pull the warrant so he could fly. Stein asserted that Busfield was 'hunted' while en route to hand himself in.
'As soon as he got here in Albuquerque, his local criminal lawyer walked him into the courthouse and he surrendered,' Stein explained to KOAT. Despite this, at least ten heavily armed officers from the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force conducted a raid on his secluded Highland Lake, NY, home on the same day. The operation began roughly an hour after Busfield was processed in New Mexico.
Allegations and Legal Proceedings
Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series The Cleaning Lady in Albuquerque between November 2022 and spring 2024. The complaint states one child reported being touched over his clothing by Busfield, the director, when he was seven and again at eight years old, and was afraid to speak out.
During his first court appearance on Wednesday, held remotely from jail, Busfield was ordered held without bond. Prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to keep him in custody, citing a documented pattern of alleged sexual misconduct and grooming behaviour over two decades. This includes a new accusation that he sexually abused a 16-year-old girl during an audition at a theatre he founded in Sacramento years ago.
Mounting Scrutiny and Defence Claims
The US Marshals Service raid has sparked significant scrutiny, as officials have ignored repeated requests to explain why it proceeded when Busfield was already in custody. Albuquerque police stated they involved the Marshals because Busfield was living out of state. However, the Albany branch of the Regional Fugitive Task Force claimed unawareness of the raid, suggesting it may have been part of a separate federal probe.
Busfield, married to actress Melissa Gilbert, denies all allegations '100 percent'. His lawyer claims an independent Warner Bros. investigation failed to corroborate the claims and that Busfield recently passed a polygraph test. Stein said his client is 'distraught' but determined to use the court system to prove his innocence. A detention hearing to determine if he remains jailed is scheduled within five business days.
