Actor David Zayas to Replace Timothy Busfield on 'Law & Order: SVU'

Zayas will take over Busfield's role after the actor was accused of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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David Zayas will be replacing Timothy Busfield on an upcoming episode of 'Law & Order: SVU' after Busfield was accused of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse. Busfield was originally set to appear in the episode 'Corrosive' as a judge, but the role has now been recast with Zayas. Zayas is best known for his role as Detective Angel Batista on the Showtime series 'Dexter' and its spinoff.

Why it matters

The recasting of Busfield's role on 'Law & Order: SVU' comes amid serious allegations against the actor, highlighting the industry's response to claims of misconduct, especially those involving minors. Zayas' casting provides a replacement with an established acting resume in crime dramas.

The details

Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, according to an Albuquerque Police Department affidavit obtained by Us Weekly. The alleged incidents occurred between late 2022 and early 2024 on the set of 'The Cleaning Lady'. Busfield has denied all allegations. The 'Corrosive' episode of 'SVU' will now feature Zayas in the role of a judge, with the plot centered around 'an attempt on a respected judge's life [that] is connected to an anonymous video posted to the SVU tip line'.

  • Busfield was originally set to appear in the 'Corrosive' episode of 'Law & Order: SVU' on January 15, 2026.
  • The episode has now been reworked and will air on February 26, 2026 with Zayas in the role.

The players

David Zayas

An actor best known for his role as Detective Angel Batista on the Showtime series 'Dexter' and its spinoff. Zayas has also appeared in films like 'The Expendables' and TV shows such as 'New York Undercover', 'Person of Interest', and 'NYPD Blue'.

Timothy Busfield

An actor who was originally set to appear in the 'Corrosive' episode of 'Law & Order: SVU', but has been replaced by Zayas. Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, according to an Albuquerque Police Department affidavit.

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What they’re saying

“I sat in the front row and [my cousins] all went to the back and they had their girlfriends and I was by myself in the front row. I was fascinated. This was the art that was attractive to me.”

— David Zayas (NPR)

“The moment I was involved in that world, it electrified me and I realized that it was something that I wanted to do.”

— David Zayas (NPR)

The takeaway

The recasting of Busfield's role on 'Law & Order: SVU' with Zayas highlights the industry's response to serious allegations of misconduct, especially those involving minors. Zayas' established acting career in crime dramas provides a suitable replacement for the role.