Actor and director Timothy Busfield is facing charges of sexual abuse involving a minor after he was accused of misconduct with a toddler actor on the set of The Cleansing Lady.
Busfield — who executive-produced 14 episodes of the Fox series and directed six, in addition to a one-episode appearance as an immigration officer — was accused of touching the kid actor inappropriately in incidents that allegedly occurred between late 2022 and early 2024, based on the Albuquerque Police Department affidavit obtained by Us Weekly in January 2026.
In an interview with police in the course of the investigation, Busfield denied that there was anything “weird” about his interactions with the kids on set, based on the criminal grievance. He’s facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of kid abuse.
“He didn’t do anything flawed,” Busfield’s attorney Larry Stein claimed in an announcement to NBC News on January 13, 2026, after Busfield surrendered to the police. “These accusations are false because the investigator from the independent law firm found.”
Keep scrolling for every little thing to know in regards to the controversy:
Timothy Busfield Was Accused of Sexual Abuse Involving a Minor
A warrant for Busfield’s arrest, obtained by Us, was issued by authorities in Latest Mexico on January 9, 2026, after he was accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor.
The alleged incidents occurred while Busfield was directing The Cleansing Lady, which aired on Fox from 2022 to 2025. Busfield’s accuser and his twin brother worked as child actors on the show.
In line with the criminal grievance, the kid involved claimed that Busfield first touched his “private areas” inappropriately when he was 7 years old. He accused the West Wing alum of touching him three or 4 times.
In a separate incident when the kid was 8 years old, Busfield allegedly touched him 5 or 6 times.
The boy was “very afraid of Tim and was relieved when he was off set,” based on the affidavit. He also stated that he “was afraid to inform anyone because Tim was the director, and he feared Tim would get mad at him.”
The kid’s mother reported to Child Protective Services that the alleged abuse occurred between late 2022 and the second half of 2024, based on the grievance. The kid was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety following the alleged incidents.
Timothy Busfield Was Interviewed In regards to the Sexual Abuse Allegations
In line with the affidavit, Timothy Busfield was interviewed by Officer Marvin Brown via phone regarding the alleged incidents in November 2025. He was asked if he had any “physical contact” with the kids, corresponding to picking them up or tickling them.
“Timothy said it was highly likely that he would have,” the affidavit stated, adding that Busfield described the set as a “playful environment.” Busfield added that there was “never a weird moment about it” and that any contact was “in front of the parents,” based on the grievance.
Busfield also stated that there was “no protocol” for touching children on set.
“I mean, I’m at all times around people, right? It could be, you recognize, in front of the parents. There would never be a weird moment about it,” he said. “I don’t really remember picking those boys up. I remember picking up the boy who followed them. I’d pick him up and he’d be giggling and that might form of get him able to act.”
Busfield claimed the kids were “never alone on set without the teacher, a welfare employee, or a parent.”
Melissa Gilbert was within the room along with her husband, Timothy Busfield, as he was questioned by police, an arrest warrant obtained by Us Weekly claims. Back in November, the West Wing actor, 68, allegedly told Officer Marvin Brown that his wife was listening on speakerphone during his interview regarding the continued allegations of kid sex […]
Timothy Busfield Was Accused of Grooming The Cleansing Lady’s Child Actors
In line with the grievance, Timothy Busfield also admitted that he and wife Melissa Gilbert “did buy the 2 boys Christmas gifts and were together [at] several social functions.”
Brown concluded that Busfield allegedly selected to “invite the family to off-set gatherings, together with his wife buying Christmas gifts to foster closeness.” He further theorized that this was an example of “classic grooming to erode boundaries, isolate the victim, and silence suspicions by mixing abuse into normalcy.”
Melissa Gilbert Slammed People Who ‘Play the Victim’ in Social Media Post
Days before the arrest warrant was issued, Melissa Gilbert took to Instagram to share a quote that read, “You appear to have a mistaken discomfort for injustice.”
In a comment, she stated that she was referring to those “playing the victim and blaming others.”
“It’s about not taking accountability for your individual situation,” Gilbert added. “It’s about being a giant whiny baby. I saw this quote and it struck me. I even have a very hard time with individuals who play the victim. Own your s***. Step up. It’s all pretty general. Has nothing to do with politics but every little thing to do with privilege, attitude and weakness.”
In November 2025, Gilbert also reflected on having to kiss a 23-year-old costar when she was just 15 on Little House on the Prairie.
“Through the lens of today, that is shocking. I even have no words apart from to say , ‘I WAS A CHILD. I WAS FIFTEEN,’” she wrote via Instagram. “Thank God my mom and Michael [Landon] and so many others were there to make sure that I used to be protected. Are you able to imagine if I hadn’t had all of them? I’m so fortunate (Form of). Many other young women aren’t.”
Gilbert has since deleted her social media accounts.
Timothy Busfield Surrenders to Police and Breaks Silence on Arrest
Timothy Busfield surrendered himself to law enforcement in Latest Mexico days after his arrest warrant was issued, TMZ reported on January 13, 2026. Before turning himself in, Busfield made an announcement at his attorney’s office, as seen in a video obtained by the outlet.
“Hi everybody, it’s Tim. I’m sure most of you recognize that I used to be ordered to return to Albuquerque. I’m here now. I got the decision Friday night, I needed to get a lawyer. Saturday, I got within the automotive and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque,” he said.
Busfield declared that he’s going to “confront these lies,” calling them “horrible.”
“I didn’t do anything to those little boys,” he continued. “And I’m gonna fight it. I’m gonna fight it with an incredible team, and I’m gonna be exonerated. I do know I’m, ‘cause that is all so flawed and so lies.”
Busfield concluded, “So hang in there, and hopefully I’m out real soon.”
Busfield’s lawyer, Larry Stein, told TMZ that he believes there was a “revenge factor” to the criminal grievance. He claimed that the mother of the boys told considered one of the actresses on The Cleansing Lady set that she “vowed to get revenge after her sons were cut from the ultimate season of the show.”
Us reached out to Stein for comment.
Timothy Busfield Makes First Court Appearance
Timothy Busfield appeared in court on January 14, 2026, wearing an orange jumpsuit. In line with Deadline, he selected to not enter a plea in the course of the hearing.
Melissa Gilbert Stands by Her Husband Timothy Busfield
After Us confirmed that Timothy Busfield had surrendered to authorities in Latest Mexico, Melissa Gilbert’s publicist released an announcement saying the Little House on the Prairie actress stands by her husband.
“During this era, her focus is on supporting and caring for his or her very large family, as they navigate this moment,” the statement read. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and can address the general public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”
Gilbert’s rep added that the actress is not going to be making statements on the request of Busfield’s lawyers.
Her lifestyle company, Modern Prairie, did, nonetheless, release an announcement via its company Instagram hours after Busfield surrendered to authorities.
“Modern Prairie is aware of recent media reports regarding serious allegations involving a member of the family of our brand muse, Melissa Gilbert. These allegations don’t involve Modern Prairie, our operations, nor our community,” the statement read. “Modern Prairie unequivocally condemns abuse in all forms and stays committed to values of safety, integrity and respect. While these matters are personal and do in a roundabout way involve Melissa or the brand, we’re respecting the privacy of the family as they navigate a difficult and private situation.”
Following Busfield’s arrest, Gilbert also asked the judge presiding over the case to maintain her husband out of harm’s way while he was in jail in an emotional character letter.
“I only want this extraordinary man protected and whole,” she penned, based on court documents obtained by Us Weekly on January 16. “Please, please, care for my sweet husband. As he’s my protector, I’m his, but I cannot protect him now and I believe that, greater than the rest, is what is really breaking my heart, I’m counting on [you] to guard him for me.”
Timothy Busfield’s Mugshot Is Released
Us obtained Timothy Busfield’s mugshot hours after he surrendered to the police on January 13, 2026.
Within the photo, Busfield wore a light-washed green T-shirt and had white facial hair, including a beard. Busfield was booked in Latest Mexico after three warrants were issued for his arrest, including two for “criminal sexual contract/minor third degree” for a toddler under 13 and one for “child abuse” listed as “intentional” and “1st offense,” based on documents obtained by Us.
The booking paperwork also listed Busfield as an “lively” hold but his bail amount had not been set.
Timothy Busfield Faces Latest Sexual Abuse Accusations
A pretrial detention motion filed on January 14, 2026, revealed that “one other victim’s father,” Colin Swift, reported to law enforcement the day prior that Timothy Busfield allegedly sexually abused Swift’s daughter “several years ago” in Sacramento, California.
“While auditioning for [Busfield] at B Street Theatre, the 16-year-old reported that [Busfield] kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates,” the motion states, based on People.
Busfield allegedly “begged the family to not report back to law enforcement if he received therapy.” Swift, who’s a “therapist himself,” thought this was “the very best thing to do” on the time.
Busfield’s attorney responded to the brand new allegations in an announcement to People.
“The allegations were never challenged, they were never proved, and so they’re 25 years old,” Stein said. “And there doesn’t appear to be any connection between these allegations regarding women 25 years ago and the allegations regarding these young boys.”
Prosecutors have requested that Busfield remain detained until his trial.
“The Defendant’s repeated sexual touching of the victim’s intimate areas, combined with deliberate grooming behaviors, establishes a sustained pattern of predatory conduct,” the motion stated. “This conduct demonstrates that the Defendant poses a serious and ongoing danger not only to the named victims, but to any child placed inside his proximity. Sexual exploitation of kids reflects a profound disregard for the physical safety, emotional well-being and developmental health of minors, and it evidences a risk that can not be adequately mitigated through supervision or conditional release.”
Timothy Busfield Dropped From Talent Agency
Timothy Busfield was dropped from his talent agency, Revolutionary Artists, amid his child sex abuse case, a rep for the corporate confirmed to Deadline. Busfield had been with the agency for several years, working with a “fair-sized” team, based on the outlet.
Lawyer Shares Insight Into Timothy Busfield’s Case
Dave Ring, partner at Taylor & Ring in Los Angeles, exclusively told Us Weekly that one factor could make or break Timothy Busfield’s case.
“Probably the most decisive factor can be whether these boys were pressured or influenced by an adult to make allegedly false accusations against Busfield,” Ring, who makes a speciality of child sexual assault cases but is just not involved in Busfield’s case, said.
He continued, “The boys originally said the touching only consisted of tickling. Later, they said it included touching of the genitals. That’s what turned the case and resulted in Busfield’s arrest. It can be crucial to find out if any outside influence caused the boys to vary their story. It is just not in any respect unusual for youngsters to reveal abuse over time, relatively than the very first time they’re confronted about it.”
A Latest Witness Comes Forward
In an affidavit obtained by Us Weekly in January 2026, a witness provided latest details in regards to the allegations made by a teenage girl against Timothy Busfield. Matthew Moore claimed that he and the teenager apprenticed on the B Street Theatre in 2000, where Busfield worked as director.
In line with Moore, Busfield received a shoulder massage from the girl while directing him during a category on the theatre. Moore shared that he “didn’t see” Busfield “initiate physical contact” with the girl, noting that nothing appeared “to be predatory or abusive.”
Moore also claimed that the girl’s father, Colin Swift, made “uncomfortable” comments about his daughter’s relationship with Busfield. He alleged that Swift told him he had written a TV show pilot that Busfield was going to assist make occur.
“I don’t need an agent since you guys are going to be stars,” Moore recalled Swift allegedly saying, per the docs. “They’ll like it because Tim Busfield goes to present it to them, which I’m certain he’ll do because he might want to if he thinks he’s going to f*** my daughter.”
Timothy Busfield Released From Jail
On January 16, Busfield’s legal team filed a motion to fight his pretrial incarceration, arguing there wasn’t enough evidence against him to justify keeping him in jail.
“The state offers no reliable proof — only allegations advanced by witnesses with documented histories of fraud and financial exploitation, contradicted by a comprehensive studio investigation, and refuted by witnesses and objective risk assessments,” the court docs obtained by Us read. “The Structure doesn’t allow liberty to be forfeited on such a foundation. The state’s motion ought to be denied.”
Busfield was released from jail on January 20. Since then, he and Gilbert have been “very involved” working together with his lawyer to construct his defense, based on a source who spoke with People.
Gilbert is anticipated to attend “all” of Busfield’s future court hearings in support of her husband.
In the event you or someone you recognize is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.