Timothy Busfield Confronts New Sexual Abuse Allegation as Albuquerque DA Raises Concerns About Safety and Warner Bros Investigation
New Allegations Against Timothy Busfield as Court Date Approaches
Timothy Busfield, a two-time Emmy Award winner currently incarcerated, faces a new allegation of sexual abuse ahead of his court appearance in New Mexico on multiple child sexual abuse charges. The latest developments come as Albuquerque law enforcement criticized Warner Bros for its "limited cooperation" during the investigation into misconduct on the set of The Cleaning Lady.
On Tuesday, Busfield, who maintains his innocence, surrendered to authorities in Bernalillo County. District Attorney Sam Bergman filed a motion on Wednesday to keep him in custody, asserting that "no conditions of release will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community." Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse, according to a warrant issued on January 9.
The charges stem from allegations of Busfield touching one boy inappropriately during his tenure as the director of the now-canceled The Cleaning Lady, a Fox drama. "I did not do anything to those little boys," Busfield stated emphatically as he turned himself in after traveling from New York to New Mexico.
During the upcoming hearing, Busfield will appear via video from the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. Legal experts expect the session will be brief, likely with Busfield entering a plea of not guilty, consistent with his prior statements. A later hearing regarding the detention motion will transition the case to district court.
In a move seen as bolstering their argument, Bergman and Deputy DA Savannah Brandenburg-Koch revealed another claim against Busfield that emerged in the last 24 hours. The father of an alleged victim, Colin Swift, reported to law enforcement on January 13 that his daughter, while auditioning for Busfield at B Street Theatre in Sacramento, was subjected to inappropriate contact.
The state’s motion for pretrial detention emphasized that Busfield poses an "ongoing and serious danger to children and the community." It describes a calculated pattern of grooming and exploitation of his professional authority to gain access to minors. Witnesses have expressed fear of retaliation for reporting Busfield’s alleged behavior.
In addition to the current allegations involving two minors who starred in The Cleaning Lady, Busfield has faced previous accusations of sexual assault in 1994 and 2012, neither of which resulted in charges. However, he settled one case involving a 17-year-old girl.
Prosecutors have also criticized Warner Bros for inadequately addressing misconduct claims. The DA’s office highlighted that crucial witnesses were not interviewed during Warner’s internal probe, which was initiated in response to hotline claims made last year.
In response, Warner Bros stated that the safety of its cast and crew is a top priority and that they take allegations of misconduct seriously. The studio reportedly expedited the sharing of an independent investigation’s findings with law enforcement and has a clear non-retaliation policy to encourage reporting of concerns.
Complicating matters for Busfield’s defense, he claimed in a recorded interview that the lead actress of The Cleaning Lady suggested the mother of the alleged victims sought revenge against him. This assertion was made before the nature of the allegations shifted last September, when one of the minors disclosed inappropriate touching to his counselor.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of these allegations extend beyond the courtroom, raising significant concerns about child safety and accountability within the entertainment industry.
Albuquerque Metropolitan Detention Center
‘The Cleaning Lady’
