Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield has been ordered released from jail under strict supervision as he awaits trial on serious child sex abuse charges. The decision came during a detention hearing on Tuesday before state district court Judge David Murphy, who granted Busfield release on his own recognizance pending trial.
Specific Allegations and Release Conditions
The release order is connected to accusations that Busfield inappropriately touched a minor while working as a director on the set of the television series "The Cleaning Lady." According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department states that a child reported Busfield touched him on private areas over his clothing on two separate occasions when he was 7 and 8 years old.
Under the conditions of his release, Busfield cannot possess firearms or drugs and is prohibited from having any contact with the alleged victims. He will be supervised by a pretrial service in Albuquerque but is permitted to leave the state to live at home. The actor, known for appearances in "The West Wing," "Field of Dreams," and "Thirtysomething," had been held without bond since his initial court appearance last week.
Courtroom Drama and Witness List
During Tuesday's hearing, Busfield appeared handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail uniform in a New Mexico state district courtroom. His wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, watched from the court gallery. Gilbert, famous for playing Laura Ingalls in the 1970s to '80s television series "Little House on the Prairie," has been included on the list of potential witnesses submitted ahead of the hearing.
Albuquerque police issued an arrest warrant for Busfield earlier this month on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred during production of "The Cleaning Lady."
Conflicting Accounts and Investigation Details
The case involves complex and conflicting accounts. According to the criminal complaint, one of the boys disclosed during a therapy session that he was inappropriately touched by the show's director. These therapy records were obtained by police during their investigation.
However, on Monday, Busfield's attorneys submitted two brief audio recordings of initial police interviews in which the children state Busfield did not touch them in private areas. The attorneys argue in court filings that the complaint mischaracterizes these interviews as a failure to disclose abuse, while they contend "an unequivocal denial is materially different from a mere absence of disclosure."
The boy's twin brother also told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He explained he didn't report the incident because he didn't want to get in trouble.
Prosecution Arguments for Continued Detention
Bernalillo County Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch argued strongly for Busfield's continued detention, calling evidence of abuse "strong and specific." She stated, "The boys' allegations are supported by medical findings and by their therapist. Their accounts were specific and not exaggerated."
Prosecutors also described what they called a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and grooming behavior by Busfield over the past three decades. They further noted that witnesses have expressed fear regarding potential retaliation and professional harm. Brandenburg-Koch emphasized, "GPS is not going to tell this court if he is around children or talking to witnesses."
Defense Counterarguments and Context
Busfield's legal team has presented a different narrative, arguing that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the television show, suggesting possible financial and retaliatory motives. The defense filings detail what attorneys describe as a history of fraud by both the boys' father and mother.
Additionally, Busfield's attorneys cited an investigation by Warner Bros. that reportedly found the allegations unfounded. Before turning himself in, Busfield called the allegations lies in a video shared publicly, maintaining his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
The case continues to develop as both sides prepare for trial, with the actor now released under strict court-imposed conditions while the serious charges against him remain pending in the New Mexico judicial system.
