Prosecutor Moves to Keep Timothy Busfield in Custody Amid Serious Child Abuse Allegations
The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has announced plans to file a motion to keep actor Timothy Busfield in police custody as his child sex abuse case moves toward trial. District Attorney Sam Bregman, who is also a 2026 New Mexico gubernatorial candidate, made the announcement via Facebook on January 13, stating that prosecutors “routinely” file pretrial detention motions in cases involving such serious charges. The decision about whether Busfield remains detained or is released pending trial will ultimately rest with a judge. The 68-year-old actor currently faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13 and one count of child abuse—charges that have shocked the entertainment industry and those familiar with Busfield’s work on popular shows like “The West Wing” and “thirtysomething.”
The allegations against Busfield are particularly disturbing, as they involve a child actor who worked with him on “The Cleaning Lady,” a Fox series that Busfield directed from 2022 to 2025. According to legal documents, the young accuser claims that Busfield first touched his “private areas” when he was just 7 years old, with the inappropriate touching allegedly occurring multiple times when the child was both 7 and 8 years old. The complaint states that the child’s mother reported to Child Protective Services that the alleged abuse took place between late 2022 and the second half of 2024. Following these troubling experiences, the child was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety—a heartbreaking consequence that has added another layer of gravity to the case and intensified public concern about child safety on television and film sets.
On Tuesday, Busfield surrendered himself to New Mexico authorities and is currently being held at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. Despite facing these serious allegations, the actor has categorically denied any wrongdoing. In footage published by TMZ showing Busfield speaking to authorities after his surrender, he emphatically stated, “I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys. I’m going to fight it. I’m going to fight it with a great team, and I’m going to be exonerated. I know I am because this is all so wrong and all lies.” His attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, has similarly maintained his client’s innocence, characterizing the accusations as “a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact, despite prior investigations finding no evidence of wrongdoing.”
Busfield’s wife, actress Melissa Gilbert of “Little House on the Prairie” fame, has stood by her husband during this difficult time. In a statement released through her representative, Gilbert expressed that her focus remains on supporting and caring for their family, including Busfield, adding that she “stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.” This statement came after Gilbert had shared a cryptic Instagram post in the days before Busfield’s arrest warrant was issued, featuring the quote “You seem to have mistaken discomfort for injustice.” She later elaborated in the comment section that the post concerned “not taking accountability for your own situation” and being “a big whiny baby,” adding that she has “a particularly hard time with people who play the victim.” While Gilbert did not explicitly connect these comments to her husband’s situation, the timing has raised questions about what she may have known about the allegations before they became public.
The case has generated significant attention not only because of Busfield’s celebrity status but also because of the serious nature of the charges involving a vulnerable child actor. The entertainment industry has faced increased scrutiny in recent years regarding the protection of child performers, with this case potentially highlighting ongoing concerns about supervision and safeguarding on sets. The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has been measured in its public statements, with a representative telling Us Weekly that Bregman’s Facebook post is “the only statement we’re releasing at this time.” This cautious approach suggests the sensitive nature of the case and the importance of protecting the privacy of the alleged victim while ensuring due process for the accused.
As the legal process unfolds, many questions remain about what evidence prosecutors have gathered and how strong their case may be against Busfield. The actor’s emphatic denials and his attorney’s suggestion that prior investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing indicate that this could become a highly contested case in court. Meanwhile, advocacy groups continue to remind the public about resources available for those experiencing or witnessing child abuse, such as the Child Help Hotline (1-800-422-4453). For now, the entertainment industry watches with concern as one of its veteran actors faces allegations that could not only end his career but also result in significant prison time if he is convicted. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of child actors and the paramount importance of their protection in all professional environments.
