Timothy Busfield Reportedly 'Devastated' By Child Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Him

By Favour Adegoke on January 15, 2026 at 8:30 PM EST

Timothy Busfield at a Thirtysomething Celebration
Advertisement

Actor-director Timothy Busfield has denied allegations after being charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse involving 11-year-old twin boys from "The Cleaning Lady."

Prosecutors are seeking pretrial detention, citing an ongoing risk to children, while Busfield's attorney disputes the claims and points to a lack of evidence.

A separate, decades-old allegation against Timothy Busfield involving a teenage girl was also referenced in court filings.

Article continues below advertisement

Timothy Busfield 'Shocked' And 'Devastated' By Child Abuse Allegations, Lawyer Claims

Timothy Busfield arrives for the Season Three Premiere of "Damages" in New York
UPI /Laura Cavanaugh Newscom/ MEGA

Actor and director Timothy Busfield continues to deny all allegations after being charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

Speaking to People Magazine on January 13, his civil attorney, Larry Stein, said the 68-year-old is "shocked" and "devastated" by the accusations involving 11-year-old twin boys.

Stein emphasized that Busfield intends to vigorously defend himself, calling the allegations "absolutely false."

Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police the same day, following a warrant issued by Officer Marvin Brown of the APD, which stated that one of the alleged victims was seven years old when the incidents allegedly occurred.

Article continues below advertisement

According to court documents, the twins met Busfield while working as actors on the FOX series "The Cleaning Lady," where he served as a director from 2022 to 2025.

The Bernalillo District Attorney, Sam Bregman, announced that prosecutors have filed a motion for pretrial detention to keep Busfield in custody, citing an "ongoing and serious danger to children and the community."

Per the motion, Busfield allegedly used his position of authority to groom minors over an extended period, exploiting professional boundaries.

The motion argues that no form of "supervision, electronic monitoring, or no-contact orders can reasonably mitigate this danger."

Article continues below advertisement

Timothy Busfield's Attorney Claims Allegations Stem From Casting Dispute

Timothy Busfield
OConnor / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Busfield's lawyer disputes the claims against the actor, saying he believes the court will allow his client to be released on his own recognizance, asserting there is "no evidence to support these claims."

He explained that the controversy arose after the twins were not recast for the show's final season, which he claims led to anger from their mother.

According to Stein, the decision was made by the showrunner, not Busfield, and the family's frustration was later directed at his client.

Court documents also revealed that Busfield informed authorities that the mother may have acted out of revenge after her sons were replaced by a younger actor.

Warner Bros. reportedly conducted an internal review of the complaints and contacted Busfield regarding the investigation.

Article continues below advertisement

Christina McGovern, an independent investigator hired by Warner Bros. Television, stated that she conducted a thorough review of the allegations and found "no corroborating evidence that Mr. Busfield engaged in inappropriate conduct or that he was ever alone with the twins on set."

A Warner Bros. spokesperson added that the studio prioritizes the safety of its cast and crew, particularly minors, and that it takes all allegations seriously while cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Article continues below advertisement

Timothy Busfield Denies Allegations In Video Recorded Before Surrendering To Police

Timothy Busfield
NEILL J. SCHUTZER/©2008 RAMEY PHOTO

Before turning himself in, Busfield recorded a video later obtained by TMZ in which he forcefully denied the allegations against him.

Introducing himself on camera, the actor said he had been instructed to travel to Albuquerque and arrived after driving roughly 2,000 miles after securing legal representation.

In the video, Busfield described the allegations as "all lies," and insisted he had done nothing wrong.

"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," he said.

He ended the message by thanking supporters and saying, "So hang in there, and hopefully I'm out real soon and back to work. I love everybody for supporting me, thank you."

Prosecutors Cite Decades-Old Allegation In Timothy Busfield Pretrial Detention Motion

Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield at Los Angeles Mission Christmas Eve For The Homeless
ravis Wade/WENN.com Newscom/ MEGA

In addition to the allegations involving the twins, prosecutors referenced a separate claim in a pretrial detention motion filed January 14.

According to the document, a man named Colin Swift contacted authorities on January 13 to report that Busfield allegedly assaulted his teenage daughter years earlier in Sacramento, California.

The filing states that the girl, who was 16 at the time, claimed Busfield "kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates" during an audition at the B Street Theatre.

The motion further alleges that Busfield "begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy."

Swift, described in the filing as a therapist, reportedly agreed at the time, believing it was the appropriate course of action.

Article continues below advertisement

Timothy Busfield's Lawyer Slammed Colin Swift's Allegations

Melissa Gilbert and her husband, Timothy Busfield
MEGA

Following the inclusion of this claim in the court motion, Busfield's attorney, Stein, responded by dismissing the relevance of the allegation.

He stated that the claim was "never challenged, they were never proved, and they're 25 years old."

Stein added that "there doesn't seem to be any connection between these allegations regarding women 25 years ago and the allegations regarding these young boys."

Advertisement