Just four days following the issuance of an arrest warrant concerning allegations of child sex abuse, Timothy Busfield has turned himself in to law enforcement.

Busfield, known for his work as both an actor and director, reported to the Metro Detention Center located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was confirmed by a spokesperson from the Albuquerque Police Department to the news outlet Oxygen.

According to records from Bernalillo County, Busfield was formally processed and booked at the detention center on the afternoon of January 13.

On the same day, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman issued a statement revealing that Busfield faces charges on two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor under the age of 13, in addition to one count of child abuse.

The district attorney’s office also disclosed plans to submit a motion advocating for Busfield’s continued detention throughout the legal proceedings.

According to his arrest warrant, which was obtained by Oxygen, charges against the actor and director stem from allegations he abused two child actors on a local television set.

Prior to his surrender, Busfield recorded a video obtained by TMZ in which he maintained his innocence and vowed to “fight” the allegations against him.

Oxygen is breaking down the details on the case so far.

What is Timothy Busfield accused of?

In an arrest warrant affidavit, police allege that Busfield groomed and inappropriately touched two young brothers on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” where they were child actors and Busfield was an executive producer and director.

Albuquerque police’s preliminary investigation began in 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital called for a sexual abuse investigation and told authorities that it appeared the boys had been groomed, per the affidavit.

The reporting officer spoke to the boys’ parents, who said that Busfield “grew closer to the boys” during their time on set, asking them to call him “Uncle Tim.” Their mother said that when she later asked them if anyone had ever touched them in a way that made them uncomfortable, they “responded by asking, ‘You mean like Uncle Tim?’”

While speaking with police at the time, the children claimed Busfield “would tickle them on the stomach and legs,” but did not disclose any sexual contact.

According to the affidavit, the case did not meet the acceptance criteria of the department’s Crimes Against Children Unit at that time. However, that changed in October 2025, when the children’s mother told Child Protective Services that both of her boys had now disclosed sexual abuse by Busfield occurring between 2022 and 2024.

During an interview, one of the boys claimed that when he was 7 years old, Busfield first touched him all over his body, including in “private areas,” while alone in a bedroom on set, per the affidavit. He alleged this continued with another incident at age 8. 

Authorities also spoke to a therapist for the boy, who said he had claimed that Busfield had touched his “genitalia” and “bottom” multiple times.

Police say his brother also alleged Busfield “started touching them for the first two years” of their time on set, but did not disclose where on his body he was touched.

According to the affidavit, in a phone interview with police, Busfield acknowledged that it was “highly likely” he picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set “was a playful environment, like he wanted.” He also alleged he’d heard that the boys’ mother “wanted revenge” after her children weren’t brought back for the show’s last season.

The affidavit also noted Warner Bros.—”The Cleaning Lady’s” production company—had sought an independent investigation into allegations against Busfield in spring 2025. Police say they found that the investigation was sparked by an anonymous complaint to a SAG-AFTRA hotline, which claimed Busfield kissed a minor male on the face, as well as that there were photos of him “tickling and caressing the head and body of minor boys.”

The affidavit noted, “[Solomon Law independent investigator] Christina McGovern was not able to talk with anyone who would support evidence that Timothy Busfield engaged in this behavior.”

“The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions,” a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Television told Oxygen in a statement. “We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”

How has Timothy Busfield responded to the allegations?

Before surrendering to police on Jan. 13, Busfield recorded a video reacting to news of the arrest warrant, where he gave a timeline for the four days between its issuance and his surrender.

“Hi everybody, it’s Tim,” he began in the video, which was obtained and published by TMZ. “As most of you know that are watching this, I was ordered to come to Albuquerque. I’m here now. I got the call Friday night. I had to get a lawyer. Saturday, I got in a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.”

“I’m going to confront these lies,” he added of the claims against him. “They’re horrible. They’re all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys, and I’m gonna fight it. I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated—I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”

As he concluded his message, “Hang in there, and hopefully I’m out real soon and back to work, and I love everybody for supporting me. Thank you.”

Busfield’s civil attorney Stanton “Larry” Stein echoed his client’s sentiment in a statement to Oxygen, saying the director “is innocent and is determined to clear his name.”

“As reflected in the criminal complaint, after her son was terminated from the show, the boy’s mother vowed to ‘get her revenge against Timothy Busfield,’” Stein said. “What followed appears to be a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact, despite prior investigations finding no evidence of wrongdoing.”

The attorney also supplied a statement from McGovern, the on-set investigator brought on by Warner Bros. Television, who said she “found no corroborating evidence that Mr. Busfield engaged in inappropriate conduct or that he was ever alone with the twins on set” during her investigation “of all allegations known to the Studio at the time.”

“The claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails,” Stein added.  

Has Timothy Busfield’s wife Melissa Gilbert responded to the allegations?

A publicist for Melissa Gilbert, Busfield’s wife, told Oxygen that the actress is “not making public statements at this time.”

“She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds,” her publicist added. “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”

What past allegations were made against Timothy Busfield?

Busfield has faced sexual assault allegations in the past. In 2012, a woman accused the actor of groping her breasts and genital areas at a movie theater in Los Angeles. A City Attorney’s Office representative told E! News at the time due to insufficient evidence, that prosecutors did not press charges.

According to his recent arrest warrant affidavit, Busfield had told police the 2012 encounter was “consensual.” However, he has not spoken publicly about the allegations.

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