Timothy Busfield in police custody amid sex abuse claims - Report

Following allegations of child sex abuse, actor Timothy Busfield has turned himself into police, according to a new report.

Busfield, 68, was charged with child sex abuse on Friday, Jan. 9, after New Mexico authorities issued an arrest warrant, according to a criminal complaint viewed by USA TODAY. New Mexico police and U.S. Marshals searched for Busfield following the warrant, the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed.

According to TMZ, Busfield surrendered to authorities Tuesday. The outlet obtained footage of Busfield speaking at his lawyer's office in Albuquerque before heading into custody.

"I'm [going to] confront these lies. They're horrible," Busfield said in the video. "They're all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys, and I'm [going to] fight it. … So, hang in there, and hopefully I'm out real soon."

USA TODAY has reached out to the Albuquerque Police Department and representatives for Busfield for comment.

An investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department filed a criminal complaint for a case involving two minors who were part of the series "The Cleaning Lady," which Busfield directed. Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. 

The actor and director is married to "Little House on the Prairie" alum Melissa Gilbert and is known for his roles in "The West Wing," "Field of Dreams" and "Thirtysomething."

Timothy Busfield sex abuse allegations

Busfield's abuse of the minors allegedly occurred between late 2022 and early 2024. One child alleged that Busfield had touched his genitals several times. Both say Busfield touched them inappropriately and instructed them to call him "Uncle Tim."

According to the complaint, the children's mother reported the incidents to Child Protective Services. One child has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, and feared disclosing the alleged abuse because of retaliation from Busfield, the complaint claims. In 2024, University of New Mexico Hospital staff members requested an investigation because it appeared the boys were being groomed.

According to the affidavit, Busfield acknowledged to police in a phone interview that the set was a "playful environment" and that he had probably tickled the boys. He suggested the allegations were revenge because the boys were fired from the show. Production assistants told Albuquerque police that Busfield was sometimes touchy or unprofessional.

'Law & Order: SVU' episode with Timothy Busfield pulled

An episode of "Law & Order: SVU" featuring Busfield has also been pulled amid the child sex abuse allegations.

The episode, set to air Jan. 15, will be replaced instead by one slated originally for Jan. 22.

"Law & Order: SVU" is a spinoff of the popular "Law & Order" series, dealing exclusively with sex crimes. Busfield, who was set to guest star, has directed several episodes in the past.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Contributing: Clare Mulroy and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY