Arrest warrant issued for actor Timothy Busfield in child sex case
New Mexico authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Emmy-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, after a child actor alleged he was repeatedly touched inappropriately on the Albuquerque set of Fox series 'The Cleaning Lady' between late 2022 and spring 2024. A criminal complaint filed by an Albuquerque Police Department investigator says the boy, now diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, described multiple incidents at ages 7 and 8, while Warner Bros. conducted its own probe but reported it could not corroborate the allegations; Busfield’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
📌 Key Facts
- An Albuquerque judge signed an arrest warrant charging Timothy Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
- The complaint alleges Busfield touched a child actor three to four times when the boy was 7 and five to six times when he was 8, on the set of 'The Cleaning Lady' in Albuquerque.
- The alleged abuse is reported to have occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, and the child has since been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety and reports nightmares about Busfield.
- Warner Bros., producer of 'The Cleaning Lady,' conducted an internal investigation into the allegations but said it was unable to corroborate them.
📊 Relevant Data
In the United States, 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault at the hands of an adult.
Statistics: Children & Teens — RAINN
In fiscal year 2024, 93.5% of individuals sentenced for sexual abuse offenses in the US were men, with racial breakdowns of 55.1% White, 15.2% Hispanic, 13.9% Black, 9.0% Native American, and 6.8% Other, compared to approximate US population percentages of 58% non-Hispanic White, 19% Hispanic, 13% Black, 1% Native American, and 9% Other/Multiracial.
Quick Facts on Sexual Abuse Offenses FY24 — United States Sentencing Commission
Sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the entertainment industry is widespread, with predatory behaviors like grooming often accepted as the norm and a significant number of cases going unreported due to power dynamics, harmful gender norms, fear of retaliation, and loss of career opportunities.
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