Timothy Busfield Indicted on Child Sex Abuse Charges

The actor and director pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence despite the grand jury indictment.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Timothy Busfield, a 68-year-old actor and director, has been indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Busfield pleaded not guilty and waived his arraignment and pre-trial appearances, vehemently denying the accusations. His lawyer claims the prosecution is "driven by something other than the facts or the law" and that Busfield looks forward to fighting the charges in open court.

Why it matters

The case has drawn significant public attention due to Busfield's high-profile acting and directing career, including his role on the TV series The Cleaning Lady. The allegations of child sexual abuse on set have raised concerns about child safety and accountability in the entertainment industry.

The details

Busfield was named in a New Mexico arrest warrant in January 2026 over accusations of child sexual abuse on the set of The Cleaning Lady. He surrendered to local law enforcement and denied the charges, saying "I'm going to fight it. I'm going to fight it with a great team, and I'm going to be exonerated." Busfield was released from police custody shortly before being indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

  • In January 2026, Busfield was named in a New Mexico arrest warrant over accusations of child sexual abuse.
  • On January 21, 2026, Busfield was released from police custody shortly before being indicted by a grand jury.
  • On February 18, 2026, Busfield pleaded not guilty and waived his arraignment and pre-trial appearances.

The players

Timothy Busfield

A 68-year-old actor and director who has been indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

Larry Stein

Busfield's civil attorney, who claims the prosecution is "driven by something other than the facts or the law" and that Busfield looks forward to fighting the charges in open court.

Sam Bregman

The Bernalillo County District Attorney, who stated that "as with all criminal proceedings, Mr. Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law" and that the office is "committed to doing everything possible to protect children and ensure justice for victims."

Melissa Gilbert

Busfield's wife, a former actress from Little House on the Prairie, who has stood by him throughout the legal battle and asked for privacy as they navigate this moment.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to confront these lies. They're horrible. They're all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys. I'm going to fight it. I'm going to fight it with a great team, and I'm going to be exonerated. I know I am because this is all so wrong and all lies.”

— Timothy Busfield (TMZ)

“The indictment was not unexpected. As the saying goes, a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich. What is deeply concerning is that the District Attorney is choosing to proceed on a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial. The detention hearing exposed fatal weaknesses in the State's evidence — gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure.”

— Larry Stein, Busfield's Lawyer (Us Weekly)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Timothy Busfield out on bail.

The takeaway

This case has raised serious concerns about child safety and accountability in the entertainment industry, with the high-profile nature of the allegations against a veteran actor and director like Timothy Busfield adding to the gravity of the situation. The outcome of this case will be closely watched as it proceeds to trial, where the strength of the evidence against Busfield will be tested.