<p id=”par-1_14″>Actor Timothy Busfield is behind bars tonight after surrendering to authorities in New Mexico. </p>
<p id=”par-2_50″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/little-house-on-the-prairie-star-melissa-gilbert-is-married-to-this-emmy-award-winning-tv-actor.html/”><em>The West Wing </em>alum</a>, 68, turned himself in to the Albuquerque police on January 13. Busfield has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) and one count of child abuse and is now in custody at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image aligncenter size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/timothy-busfield-mugshot.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Actor Timothy Busfield mugshot” class=”wp-image-3862831″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Timothy Busfield | Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center </figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-3_63″>“The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office intends to file a motion seeking to keep Mr. Busfield in custody while the case proceeds through the judicial process,” the DA’s offices said in a statement. “A judge will then determine whether Busfield remains detained or is released pending trial. The District Attorney’s Office routinely files pretrial detention motions in cases involving these types of charges.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_38″>A warrant for Busfield’s arrest was issued on January 9. He is accused of inappropriate contact with two child actors on the set of Fox’s now-canceled drama <em>The Cleaning Lady, </em>on which he worked as a director. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-timothy-busfield-calls-allegations-against-him-lies”>Timothy Busfield calls allegations against him ‘lies’ </h2>
<p id=”par-5_18″>Busfield has not yet appeared in court. But in a video obtained by <a href=”https://www.tmz.com/2026/01/13/timothy-busfield-surrenders-child-sex-abuse/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>TMZ</a>, he denied any wrongdoing. </p>
<p id=”par-6_39″>“I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer,” the actor, who lives in upstate New York, said. “Saturday I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.”</p>
<p id=”par-7_46″>“They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it,” Busfield continued. “I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”</p>
<p id=”par-8_22″>Busfield has been <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/notable-people/timothy-busfield-faces-child-sex-abuse-charges-after-his-wife-wrote-a-post-condeming-child-abuse.html/”>married to actor Melissa Gilber</a>t since 2013. The <em>Little House on the Prairie </em>alum is standing by her husband. </p>
<p id=”par-9_49″>“During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment,” her representative, Ame Van Iden, said in a statement shared with <a href=”https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-marshals-join-search-actor-timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-allegat-rcna253819″>NBC News</a>. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”</p>
<p id=”par-10_28″><em><strong>How to get help: </strong>If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.</em></p>
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