West Wing actor faces child sex abuse charges as police issue warrant for his arrest
The actor, 68, best known for his roles in The West Wing and Field of Dreams, is facing two wounds of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
An arrest warrant has been issued for actor Timothy Busfield for allegedly inappropriately touching a minor on a TV show set.
The Emmy award-winning actor, 68, is best known for his roles in The West Wing and Field of Dreams, and has been married to Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert since 2013.
Busfield, who has three children with two of his ex wives, is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
According to a warrant for his arrest, an investigation into Busfield was opened in November 2024 when staff at the University of New Mexico Hospital called police and reported children potentially being groomed on the set of the TV show 'The Cleaning Lady', which Busfield directs.
An officer reportedly spoke with the parents of two child actors on the set of the show, and Busfield allegedly 'grew closer to the boys' during their time on set, per a criminal complaint filed last week in New Mexico.
Busfield allegedly told the children 'to call him Uncle Tim', and the criminal complaint said he 'would tickle them on the stomach and legs, despite them not liking the tickling.'
The children did not allege sexual touching at the time, but in October 2025 one of the parents reported to Child Protective Services that her child disclosed alleged sexual abuse by Busfield.
The child told a therapist that Busfield touched his 'genitalia' and 'bottom' while in a bedroom on the set of the TV show, according to the affidavit first reported by KTLA.
An arrest warrant has been issued for actor Timothy Busfield for allegedly inappropriately touching a minor on a TV show set. He is pictured in June 2023 with his wife, Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert
Busfield (pictured with Gilbert in 2019) is being sought by cops and is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse
Busfield pictured starring as character Danny Concannon on hit TV show The West Wing
According to the affidavit, Busfield told an officer that he had 'playful' contact with the children on his set, but denied any wrongdoing.
He allegedly suggested that the allegations were due to the parents wanting 'revenge' on him after their children were not asked back for the show's final season.
According to a complaint filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, the alleged abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. A warrant has been issued for Busfield's arrest in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, and no court or jail records indicate he has been taken into custody.