Authorities in New Mexico issued an arrest warrant Friday for Emmy Award-winning director and actor Timothy Busfield to face child sexual assault charges.
An Albuquerque Police Department detective filed a criminal complaint to support the charge, which says a child reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately. These acts allegedly occurred during the filming of “The Cleaning Lady,” a television series in which Busfield directed and starred.
The child said the first incident occurred when he was 7 years old, and Busfield touched him three or four times. Busfield allegedly touched him five or six times on another occasion when he was eight years old.
The child’s mother told Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said.
Busfield’s attorney and agent did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment late Friday.
The arrest warrant, signed by a judge, said the charge was two counts of criminal sexual intercourse with a minor.
The child, identified only by his initials, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, according to the complaint. A social worker documented him saying he had nightmares about Busfield touching him and woke up afraid.
The child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he was afraid he would get angry with him.
The investigation began in November 2024, when a detective responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital. The complaint said the child’s parents went there on the recommendation of a law firm.
“The Cleaning Lady” aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. It starred Elodie Yung as a Cambodian doctor who comes to the United States to seek medical treatment for her son, witnesses a mob murder and ends up becoming an organized crime cleaner.
The show was produced by Warner Bros., which, according to the complaint, conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to confirm them.
Busfield is known for his appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1991.
he Married to actor Melissa Gilbert; There was no immediate response to an email sent to her publicist.