Timothy Busfield Suffers First Fallout Of Child Sex Abuse Case
By Afouda Bamidele on January 15, 2026 at 10:45 AM EST
Updated on January 15, 2026 at 10:53 AM EST
Timothy Busfield has suffered an enormous career blow amid teeming allegations.
The director has been ditched by the agency managing his career shortly after he made his first court appearance on his ongoing child sex abuse case in Albuquerque.
Timothy Busfield is insisting on his innocence despite the gravity of the allegations, noting that his playful gestures towards the kids should not translate to assault.
Timothy Busfield Abruptly Dropped By Innovative Artists
A representative for the company confirmed that they no longer work with the agency that has managed his career for many years. Busfield, who was denied bond yesterday, now has to wait behind bars for his next hearing, which will take place in five working days.
The actor appeared in front of Judge Felicia Blea-Rivera on Wednesday afternoon in an orange jumpsuit after he was booked and arrested at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center.
Before his court appearance, he also did not enter into any plea deal, and it is expected that he insists he was not guilty should he be asked.
Deadline reported that the director may get more than ten years behind bars if he is found guilty on the charges involving twin minor boys whom he allegedly assaulted on the set of "Cleaning Lady."
The Director Claimed No Formal Rules Prohibited Interaction With Kids On Set
During a phone call between Busfield and the Albuquerque police department last November, he admitted to touching the twins playfully on set. The Blast noted that the director claimed there was no protocol for physical interactions between adults and children while filming.
In fact, Busfield claimed that all his interactions with these kids mostly happened in front of their parents, which made the moment less weird. He recalled occasionally helping to prepare children on set to act, although he did not remember picking up those boys.
Busfield added that claims about him tickling or playing with child actors would not surprise him at all, but he never tried to physically touch his accusers as far as he could recollect. He insisted that the children were always in the company of welfare workers, teachers, or parents while on set.
Timothy Busfield Virtually Denied The Sexual Misconduct Allegations
The producer has left no stone unturned when it came to declaring his innocence in the wake of the charges slammed against him. In a video he released shortly before turning himself in to the Albuquerque police department, Busfield declared:
"I'm going to confront these lies. They're horrible. They're all lies. I did not do anything to those little boys. And I'm going to fight it."
He reminded his listeners that he was summoned to report to Albuquerque by the police, and he had to drive 2,000 miles to get there. Busfield stressed that he is going to fight the case with his great team of lawyers and ensure he gets exonerated.
The director, during the phone call with the authorities, reportedly told them that he shared a relationship with the twin boys and their parents off the set. He would even send them Christmas gifts and attend social events with the kids and their families.
The 68-Year-Old's Wife, Melissa Gilbert, Expressed Horror Over A Past Movie Role
Shortly before the windstorm of accusations emerged on Busfield's porch, his wife and actress had made an Instagram post about her experience on the set of "Little House on the Prairie."
As noted by The Blast, Gilbert discussed that she worked opposite Dean Butler, who was much older than her at the time, as her on-screen love interest. The actress confessed that she felt a pressing need to add her voice to the trend of women sharing their unfavorable childhood memories.
The TV star stated that she went to pull out images of herself from her past, and it brought back crazy memories that a young girl like her at such a young age was expected to fall in love and kiss a much older man on set.
"Through the lens of today, this is shocking. I have no words other than to say, 'I WAS A CHILD.' 'I WAS FIFTEEN.' And I was the good news," Gilbert explained. She then credited her mother for ensuring she stayed safe throughout her time on set and even beyond.
Timothy Busfield's Wife Took A Social Media Break Amid His Woes
The actress promptly deleted her Instagram account on January 11 when the arrest warrant for her husband became public. She has also held back on making any public statement in the wake of Busfield's case with the Albuquerque Police Department.
Gilbert's action spurred a series of speculations among social media users who stressed that it was unfair to come after her for something her husband did. Some users admitted that they would have also done the same thing if they were in her shoes.
The actress and Busfield had celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary back in April 2025, where she gushed about their bond and journey as soul mates. Now, some social media users have claimed Gilbert probably had no idea her husband might be a pedophile based on the accusations slammed against him.
