According to Deadline, actor and director Timothy Busfield has been charged in New Mexico with two counts of alleged criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse, stemming from alleged incidents that reportedly occurred during production of The Cleaning Lady.
Deadline stated that according to an arrest warrant approved by the Albuquerque District Attorney, a 10-year-old boy alleges Busfield engaged in inappropriate physical contact while the child was present on set. The incidents are said to have taken place in Albuquerque, where the Fox drama produced by Warner Bros. Television filmed multiple seasons before its cancellation.
Reported by Deadline, the warrant includes accounts from two brothers, identified as minors, who appeared on the series over several seasons. One child reportedly told investigators the alleged contact occurred multiple times when he was seven years old and that he was afraid to report it due to Busfield’s position of authority on set. The second child described discomfort with physical contact but did not allege specific sexual touching.
According to Deadline, Busfield, 68, served as a director on The Cleaning Lady. At this time, it remains unclear whether he has been arrested or formally booked following the issuance of the warrant. If convicted, he could face significant prison time under New Mexico law, particularly due to statutes involving alleged crimes against minors under the age of 13.
Per Deadline, the matter was initially brought to the attention of law enforcement in late 2024 but was not pursued at that time. The case was reopened in 2025 after new disclosures were reportedly made to a counselor, prompting further investigation by the Albuquerque Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit.
Deadline reported that the warrant also references an internal investigation conducted by Warner Bros. Television in early 2025 following an anonymous complaint submitted to SAG-AFTRA. That probe, carried out by an external law firm, reportedly did not find corroborating evidence at the time, and Busfield was ultimately allowed to continue working.
In a statement, Warner Bros. Television said:
“The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”
Busfield’s representatives have not publicly commented on the charges.
According to Deadline, this case remains ongoing. Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.