Actor Timothy Busfield, best known for playing Danny Concannon on The West Wing, is facing serious criminal allegations involving minors, according to newly issued court documents in New Mexico.
Busfield, 68, has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, according to an arrest warrant issued by the Albuquerque Police Department on Friday, Jan. 9. Authorities allege Busfield engaged in unlawful conduct involving two 11-year-old siblings, whose identities have not been made public. One of the children reportedly told investigators the alleged incidents began when he was just 7 years old.
The investigation began on Nov. 1, 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police to potential sexual abuse concerns. According to the warrant, the children’s parents said their sons were child actors who met Busfield while working on the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield served as a director.
The show aired from January 2022 through June 2025. The parents alleged that once Busfield joined the production, he grew closer to their sons and encouraged them to call him “Uncle Tim.” They later learned of rumors that Busfield had been “handsy” with women, prompting the mother to ask her children if anyone had ever touched them in a way that made them uncomfortable.
According to the warrant, the children responded by asking, “You mean like Uncle Tim?”
The family sought medical and legal guidance, and professionals later suggested the children may have been groomed. Early on, investigators said the case did not meet acceptance criteria because the children had not disclosed explicit sexual contact, though both alleged Busfield frequently tickled them on their stomachs and legs.
In October 2025, the mother filed a police report stating her sons disclosed sexual abuse occurring between November 2022 and spring 2024. One child later told his counselor that Busfield had inappropriately touched him. The boy was eventually diagnosed with moderate post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, with reports of nightmares, bed-wetting, and behavioral changes.
According to the warrant, the child told his therapist Busfield touched and rubbed his penis multiple times and appeared ashamed afterward. The boy also said he feared coming forward because Busfield was a director and he worried he would get angry.
The mother further alleged that parents were initially given iPads to monitor their children on set from another area, but that practice stopped after Busfield joined the production. She claimed Busfield discouraged parental monitoring, calling it nonstandard.
Busfield reportedly told investigators the parents were upset their children had been replaced by a younger actor and suggested the allegations were retaliatory. He acknowledged that Warner Bros. launched an outside investigation and that complaints involved the two boys.
When questioned, Busfield allegedly admitted it was “highly likely” he picked up or tickled the children, saying he wanted to create a playful environment. He denied any inappropriate intent and said interactions occurred in public settings. He also stated that he and his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, had a close relationship with the family outside of work, including exchanging Christmas gifts and attending social gatherings together.
Investigators also documented claims from a production assistant that one of the boys was frequently unsupervised on set. An internal investigation allegedly included a report that Busfield kissed a minor on the face in a hair and makeup trailer in December 2024.
In the warrant, an officer described the alleged behavior as grooming, accusing Busfield of exploiting his position of trust and authority on set to blur boundaries and isolate the child. The document also notes Busfield has faced prior sexual assault allegations dating back to 1994.
Representatives for Busfield, Gilbert, FOX, and Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The case remains under investigation.
If you suspect child abuse, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or at childhelp.org. All calls are confidential.
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