Timothy Busfield accused of sexual abuse involving children

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A child sex abuse investigation in New Mexico has led to charges being levelled against veteran actor and director Timothy Busfield, according to reports.

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Busfield, 68, is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and an open count of child abuse, ABC affiliate KOAT reported Friday afternoon, citing court documents.

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The two charges for sexual contact involves a child under the age of 13, the court filing said.

Police in Albuquerque said one of the children alleged the Field of Dreams and Revenge of the Nerds actor touched them inappropriately when they were seven years old while he was directing The Cleaning Lady, a TV drama series.

The sexual abuse investigation began in November 2024 when police was alerted by University of New Mexico Hospital staff that it appeared the children were groomed, the court document said.

Two boys told an officer at the hospital that “Uncle Tim” would tickle them on the stomach and legs while not caring. Busfield allegedly told the children to call him “Uncle Tim”.

“(The mother) informed Officer Osborn that she had asked their children, VL and SL, who were eleven years old at the time, if anyone had ever touched them in a manner that made them feel uncomfortable,” the affidavit filed last Sunday stated, reports KTLA Los Angeles.

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“The children responded by asking, ‘You mean like Uncle Tim?’”

Police determined that the evidence at the time didn’t meet the threshold for charges as no sexual contact was disclosed.

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Nearly a year later, in October 2025, Child Protective Services were alerted by a parent who said her children alleged Busfield sexually abused them from November 2022 to spring 2024.

A therapist was told by one child that the director touched both his “genitalia” and “bottom” while in a bedroom on the set of The Cleaning Lady, the court documents said.

Busfield was interviewed by police and said he was only having “playful” contact with the children during production of the show. He suggested the parents came up with the allegations as “revenge” for their children not returning to the series for its final season.

It is unclear if Busfield, married to actress Melissa Gilbert, has been arraigned on the arrest warrant.

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