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‘West Wing’ actor Timothy Busfield turns himself in
We are getting more information tonight as actor Timothy Busfield turns himself in to authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest on child sex abuse charges. LiveNOW’s Mike Pache is learning more with TMZ’s Branson Quirke as the story develops.
A New Mexico grand jury has indicted actor Timothy Busfield on multiple child sex charges.
The indictment, announced Friday by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, comes two weeks after Busfield turned himself in to authorities in Albuquerque.
What is Timothy Busfield charged with?
What we know:
According to the DA’s office, Busfield is charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child. Busfield’s arrest warrant was for two counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, but he was indicted on four counts.
Busfield was initially held without bail after his first court appearance on Jan. 14. A judge later reversed that decision and ordered the actor be released pending trial.
Director and actor Timothy Busfield looks on before a hearing in the Second District Judicial Court at the Bernalillo County Courthouse on January 20, 2026 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Police documents say the abuse allegedly happened on the set of "The Cleaning Lady," a FOX TV series Busfield directed and acted in. A boy reported that Busfield touched him on his private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was 7 years old and another time when he was 8. The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but he did not specify where and didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble, the complaint said.
What they're saying:
At a court hearing in January, Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called evidence of abuse against Busfield strong and specific. She also said witnesses expressed fear about potential retaliation and professional harm.
Timothy Busfield's booking photo (Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office)
"The boys’ allegations are supported by medical findings and by their therapist," Brandenburg-Koch said. "Their accounts were specific and not exaggerated."
The other side:
Busfield denied the allegations in a video he shared before turning himself in.
Busfield’s attorneys said in court filings that the allegations against him emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive. The filings detailed what the attorneys said was a history of fraud by both the father and mother.
Timothy Busfield roles
The backstory:
Busfield 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.
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Update on case involving actor Timothy Busfield
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman holds a news conference regarding the criminal case involving actor Timothy Busfield.
"The Cleaning Lady" aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. It starred Elodie Yung as a Cambodian doctor who comes to the United States to get medical treatment for her son, then witnesses a mob killing and ends up becoming a cleaner for organized crime.
Warner Bros., which produced the show, reportedly conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.
Busfield is married to actor Melissa Gilbert.
The Source: This article includes information from the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, The Associated Press and previous FOX Local reporting.