A grand jury in Albuquerque, New Mexico, indicted actor and director Timothy Busfield on charges of child sexual abuse. The decision comes nearly a month after Busfield surrendered to authorities following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him. The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office, led by Sam Bregman, announced Friday that grand juries voted to indict Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor. The grand jury hearing took place Thursday. The investigations began after allegations of unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys whom he directed on the Fox series 'The Cleaning Lady,' where he served as an executive producer. Police records allege the inappropriate touching occurred on multiple occasions between November 2022 and spring 2024. In a statement on social media, the district attorney's office emphasized that "the protection of children remains a top priority" and that the case will be pursued by its Special Victims Unit. He also reiterated Busfield's presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.

Second Accusation

A day after his surrender on January 13, a new accusation surfaced. A request for pretrial detention, reviewed by Entertainment Weekly, alleges that a parent reported that, during an audition at the B Street Theater in Sacramento—founded by Busfield in 1986—the actor allegedly kissed and inappropriately touched a 16-year-old girl.

Following a hearing on January 20, a judge determined that Busfield would not remain in custody until trial, but imposed strict conditions: he cannot have unsupervised contact with minors, he must abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs, and he cannot contact the alleged victims or their families. If convicted on the current charges, he could face at least three years in state prison. Busfield has publicly denied all allegations, including in a video. He has received dozens of letters of support submitted as evidence, including statements from his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, and his former 'Thirtysomething' co-stars, Peter Horton and Ken Olin. Gilbert, who has been married to Busfield since 2013,you have maintained your public support. Her publicist stated that she “stands behind and supports her husband” and will address the public “at the appropriate time.” Gilbert was present at Busfield's first court appearance on January 20.