A third individual has come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against actor Timothy Busfield, just hours after the West Wing star surrendered to police on separate child sex abuse charges.
Arrest and Initial Denials
The 68-year-old actor turned himself in to Albuquerque police on Tuesday, 13 January 2026. This followed an arrest warrant issued four days prior, charging him with two counts of criminal sexual contact and child abuse. The charges relate to alleged incidents involving two young boys while Busfield was working on the set of the Fox series The Cleaning Lady.
In a video statement released before his arrest, Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, declared, "I did not do anything to those little boys." His lawyer, Larry Stein, stated that his client denies the allegations and has passed an independent polygraph examination regarding them.
A Third Accuser Comes Forward
Prosecutors moved swiftly to keep Busfield in custody, filing a pretrial detention motion on Wednesday morning. This motion revealed a new, previously unreported allegation. According to court documents, the father of a 16-year-old girl came forward on Tuesday, alleging that several years ago, Busfield "kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates" during an audition at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, which Busfield founded.
The filing claims Busfield then "begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy." The girl's father, a therapist, said he agreed to this at the time. Prosecutors argue this demonstrates a "calculated pattern of grooming" and exploitation of professional authority.
History of Allegations and Industry Probe
Busfield, known for roles in The West Wing and Field of Dreams, was a director and executive producer on The Cleaning Lady when he met the two boys. One boy alleged the abuse started when he was seven. His lawyer claims the accusations are revenge from the boys' mother after they were not cast in the show's final season.
This is not the first time Busfield has faced such claims. The pretrial motion references two prior accusations: a 1994 lawsuit from a 17-year-old extra which was privately settled, and a 2012 allegation from a 28-year-old woman that was closed due to lack of evidence. Furthermore, Warner Brothers investigated a complaint in February 2025 after an anonymous witness claimed to see Busfield kiss a six-year-old boy. Their third-party investigator found no evidence of inappropriate behaviour.
Prosecutors stated that witnesses to Busfield's alleged behaviour have expressed fear of retaliation. He remains in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center as the legal process continues.
