Timothy Busfield indicted on child sex abuse charges by New Mexico grand jury

Actor and director Timothy Busfield has been indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on multiple child sex abuse charges, escalating a case that has drawn significant attention due to his long career in television and film. The indictment was returned in Bernalillo County and includes four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child.

Busfield, 68, is accused of inappropriately touching a child actor while working as a director on the television series The Cleaning Lady. According to court documents, the alleged incidents took place over an extended period between late 2022 and early 2024. The child involved was reportedly under the age of 10 at the time of the alleged abuse.

Prosecutors say the allegations came to light after the child disclosed the incidents during a forensic interview. The complaint states that the child experienced fear and distress connected to the alleged conduct and was initially hesitant to report it because Busfield was in a position of authority on set. A second child was also interviewed as part of the investigation.

Busfield was arrested earlier this year and later released under conditions that include having no unsupervised contact with minors. Through his attorney, he has denied the allegations and has said he intends to fight the charges. His legal team has maintained that he is innocent and criticized the prosecution’s case.

The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office emphasized that Busfield is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The case will be handled by the Special Victims Unit, and further court proceedings, including pretrial hearings, are expected in the coming months.

Busfield is best known for his roles in Thirtysomething, The West Wing, and Field of Dreams, as well as for his work as a television director. The indictment marks a serious development in the case and could have significant legal consequences if the charges proceed to trial.