Timothy Busfield Surrenders to Police Following Child Abuse Allegations

Actor and director Timothy Busfield has reportedly turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico, four days after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Busfield, the Emmy Award–winning actor and husband of Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert, surrendered to the Albuquerque Police Department on Tuesday, January 13, according to local outlet KOAT. He is facing charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse related to alleged misconduct involving child actors during the production of the Fox series The Cleaning Lady.

The investigation began in 2024 after claims were brought forward by twins who appeared on the show. The boys, now 11, were reportedly 7 years old when the alleged incidents began. Their mother contacted authorities, prompting a formal inquiry.

Court documents obtained by KOAT indicate that Warner Bros., the production company behind the series, previously conducted an internal investigation. At that time, the claims could not be substantiated.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department stated that Busfield’s whereabouts were unknown and confirmed that assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service had been requested to locate him. Those measures became unnecessary after Busfield voluntarily presented himself to authorities the following day.

TMZ was the first outlet to report Busfield’s surrender and shared a video in which he publicly addressed the allegations. In the recording, Busfield maintains his innocence and explains his decision to return to New Mexico.

“I got the call Friday night. I had to get a lawyer. On Saturday, I got into a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque,” he said.

Busfield described the accusations as “lies” and stated that he intends to challenge them in court.

“They’re horrible. They’re all lies. And I did not do anything to those little boys. And I’m gonna fight it,” he said. “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.”

He concluded by expressing hope that the matter would be resolved quickly and that he would be “back to work” soon.

At this stage, the case remains in its early legal phase. No trial date has been announced, and the allegations have not yet been tested in court. As with all criminal proceedings, Busfield is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The situation continues to draw national attention, both because of the seriousness of the charges and Busfield’s long-standing career in television and film.