Actor Timothy Busfield faces child sex abuse charge in New Mexico
New Mexico authorities issued an arrest warrant for actor-director Timothy Busfield after a child reported inappropriate touching allegedly occurring on the set of The Cleaning Lady between 2022 and 2024.
Overview
An Albuquerque investigator filed a criminal complaint alleging Busfield touched a child on the set of The Cleaning Lady when the child was 7 and again at 8.
The arrest warrant, signed by a judge, charges Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
The child was diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety; a social worker reported nightmares and fear of telling others because Busfield was the director.
The investigation began in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police; parents had sought help via a law firm.
Warner Bros. conducted its own probe into the allegations but could not corroborate them; Busfield's attorney and agent had not commented.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally: they use cautious language ("alleged"), attribute claims to the criminal complaint and named professionals, and include both the child's reported symptoms and that Busfield's representatives did not respond. Editorial choices avoid evaluative wording and present source content (complaint, social worker notes, studio investigation) rather than added commentary.
Sources (5)
FAQ
According to the arrest warrant and criminal complaint, Timothy Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, and at least one report also notes an additional count of child abuse related to the same alleged incidents on the set of “The Cleaning Lady.”
The complaint states that a boy who worked as a child actor on “The Cleaning Lady” reported that Busfield inappropriately touched his private areas on multiple occasions when he was 7 and again at 8, with the alleged abuse occurring between about November 2022 and spring 2024 while on set; the child’s parents later reported the alleged abuse to Child Protective Services and sought medical and legal help.
The investigation began in November 2024 after a physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital examined the child and notified police of suspected sexual abuse, following the parents’ visit to the hospital on the recommendation of a law firm.
Warner Bros., which produced “The Cleaning Lady,” told police it previously conducted an internal investigation into the allegations against Busfield but said it was unable to find evidence to corroborate the claims at that time, while stating publicly that it takes misconduct allegations seriously and is cooperating with law enforcement.
News reports state that Busfield’s attorney and agent did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the warrant was issued, and no detailed public statement from Busfield personally was reported at that time.
History
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