West Wing actor turns himself in to face child sex abuse charges: ‘Going to confront these lies’

1 month ago 5

By Susan Montoya Bryan

January 14, 2026 — 10.31am

Albuquerque: Director and Emmy Award-winning West Wing actor Timothy Busfield has turned himself to authorities to face child sex abuse charges in New Mexico.

His apprehension on Tuesday (overnight in Australia) comes after authorities in Albuquerque issued a warrant for his arrest on Friday (Saturday AEDT) on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The charges stem from allegations that Busfield inappropriately touched a young boy on the set of the TV series The Cleaning Lady that he was directing.

West Wing actor Timothy Busfield, pictured here with co-star Allison Janney, has turned himself in to authorities to face child sex abuse charges in New Mexico.

Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is known for appearances in The West Wing, Field of Dreams and Thirtysomething, the latter of which won him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.

“During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment,” a representative for Gilbert told Us Weekly in a statement. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”

Gilbert, who is known for her role in Little House on the Prairie and was the president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) from 2001 to 2005, has been married to Busfield since 2013. She indicated through a publicist that she won’t speak publicly at the request of attorneys for Busfield while the legal process unfolds.

NBC shelved an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that featured Busfield and was set to air on Thursday (Friday AEDT), a network spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday (Wednesday) to The Associated Press. Busfield was guest-starring as the judge on the long-running show, which focuses on sex crimes.

Busfield was being booked by Albuquerque police on the charges, said Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the city police department.

A criminal complaint filed by an investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department says the boy reported that he was seven years old when Busfield touched him three or four times on private areas over his clothing. Busfield allegedly touched him five or six times on another occasion when he was 8, the complaint said.

The child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him, the complaint said.

The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.

Busfield denied the allegations last fall (autumn, which runs from September to November in the United States) when interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation, the complaint said. He suggested that the boys’ mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series. He also said he likely would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful environment.

Busfield and Melissa Gilbert, pictured here in January 2020, have been married since 2013.

Busfield’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Tuesday (overnight in Australia). A video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He said he arrived in the city after driving 2000 miles (3219km).

“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.

The mother of the twins – who are identified only by their initials in court records – reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024 (March through May in the US), the complaint said.

The investigation began in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The boys’ parents had gone there at the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.

The Cleaning Lady aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros, which according to the complaint conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028, Lifeline 13 11 14 and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.

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