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by SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and MORGAN LEE, Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield appeared in court Wednesday following his self-surrender to authorities to face charges of child sex abuse, stemming from allegations he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” in New Mexico.
Albuquerque police issued an arrest warrant last week on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint details allegations that the acts occurred during the production of “The Cleaning Lady,” filmed in Albuquerque.
Busfield, married to actor Melissa Gilbert and known for his roles in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething,” maintains his innocence and vows to fight the charges.Before surrendering, Busfield released a video asserting the allegations were false.
Prosecutors are seeking to detain Busfield pending trial. A motion filed early Wednesday outlines their rationale, citing a documented pattern of alleged sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and grooming behavior spanning two decades. They also state witnesses fear retaliation and professional repercussions.
The motion argues that individuals in positions of authority, status, or influence are uniquely able to evade accountability and circumvent safeguards designed to protect children. “In light of the defendant’s demonstrated disregard for boundaries, authority and compliance, no condition or combination of conditions of release can reasonably protect the victims or the community,” the motion states.
A judge will determine whether to grant the detention request; a hearing date has not yet been set.
Prosecutors also criticized Busfield for disseminating the video to TMZ, arguing he prioritized “personal narrative control and public relations” over adherence to the court process.
According to the criminal complaint, the alleged victim reported being 7 years old when Busfield allegedly touched him multiple times on his private areas over his clothing. The complaint further alleges a separate incident occurred when the child was 8 years old.
The complaint also states the child was reportedly hesitant to disclose the abuse, fearing Busfield’s reaction as the director.
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