Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in "The West Wing," "Thirtysomething," and "Field of Dreams," is currently the subject of a search by law enforcement after an arrest warrant was issued for him in New Mexico on child sex abuse charges. The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) confirmed they are working with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend the 68-year-old actor.
The warrant was issued on Friday, January 9, 2026, following a criminal complaint filed by an investigator with the APD. The complaint states that a child reported Busfield touched him inappropriately on multiple occasions between November 2022 and Spring 2024, while on the set of the FOX television series, "The Cleaning Lady," where Busfield worked as a director and actor. The child, who was reportedly seven years old at the time of the first alleged incident, stated that Busfield touched him inappropriately three or four times. On another occasion, when the child was eight, Busfield allegedly touched him five or six times.
According to the complaint, the child has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. A social worker documented that the child reported having nightmares about Busfield touching him and would wake up scared. The child also stated he was afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director, fearing he would get angry. The investigation commenced in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted police. The child's parents sought medical advice at the recommendation of a law firm.
"The Cleaning Lady," a FOX series that aired for four seasons, ending in 2025, starred Elodie Yung as a Cambodian doctor who becomes a cleaner for organized crime after witnessing a mob killing.
In the wake of the allegations, Busfield's wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, has made her Instagram account unavailable.
FOX and Warner Bros. Television released a statement saying, "The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions, We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement".
Busfield's legal representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.
This is not the first time Busfield has faced sexual misconduct allegations. In 1994, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old actress during the filming of "Little Big League" in 1993. Busfield denied the allegations and filed a defamation suit, which ended in a settlement.
Prior to the current allegations, Busfield was inducted into the Sacramento Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024 and, with his brother, created the B Street Theatre, a non-profit theater in Sacramento.
