{"id":27393,"date":"2026-01-20T12:27:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/timothy-busfield-due-in-court-for-detention-hearing-in-child-sex-abuse-case-nbc-los-angeles\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T12:27:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:27:58","slug":"timothy-busfield-due-in-court-for-detention-hearing-in-child-sex-abuse-case-nbc-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/timothy-busfield-due-in-court-for-detention-hearing-in-child-sex-abuse-case-nbc-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Timothy Busfield due in court for detention hearing in child sex abuse case \u2013 NBC Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Case<\/h2>\n

Actor Melissa Gilbert will be in attendance and could speak Tuesday at a New Mexico detention hearing for her husband, Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield, who faces child sex abuse charges stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on a TV series set.<\/p>\n

Background on Timothy Busfield<\/h2>\n

Busfield, who is known for appearances in \u201cThe West Wing,\u201d \u201cField of Dreams\u201d and \u201cThirtysomething,\u201d was ordered held without bond last week at his first court appearance. Busfield called the allegations lies in a video shared before he turned himself in. Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls in the 1970s to \u201980s TV series \u201cLittle House on the Prairie,\u201d is on the list of potential witness submitted ahead of the hearing.
\n<\/p>\n

Support from Melissa Gilbert<\/h2>\n

A representative for Gilbert told NBC News that Gilbert will attend Tuesday\u2019s detention hearing. In a letter of support for her husband filed in court, Gilbert wrote that Busfield "has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known."
\n"He has dedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others. He starts every day with kindness and compassion," she said.
\nGilbert talked about his dedication to his family and his career and asked the judge to "please, please, take care of my sweet husband."
\n"As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart," she wrote. "I am relying on you to protect him for me."<\/p>\n

Allegations Against Busfield<\/h2>\n

Albuquerque police issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest earlier this month on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series \u201cThe Cleaning Lady,\u201d which was directed by Busfield and was filmed in the city.
\nAccording to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the police department says the child reported Busfield touched him on private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was 7 years old and another time when he was 8. The boy\u2019s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but did not specify where. He said he didn\u2019t say anything because he didn\u2019t want to get in trouble.<\/p>\n

Defense Arguments<\/h2>\n

On Monday, Busfield\u2019s attorneys submitted two brief audio recordings of initial police interviews in which the children say Busfield did not touch them in private areas. The attorneys in a court filing argue that the complaint characterizes the interviews as a failure to disclose abuse, but an \u201cunequivocal denial is materially different from a mere absence of disclosure.\u201d
\nAccording to the criminal complaint, one of the boys disclosed during a therapy session that he was inappropriately touched by the show’s director. Those records were obtained by police during the investigation.
\nBusfield\u2019s attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive. The filings detailed what the attorneys said was a history of fraud by both the boys’ father and mother. They cited an investigation by Warner Bros. into the allegations that found the allegations unfounded.
\nBusfield also submitted letters vouching for his character, and his attorneys say he passed an independent polygraph test.
\nLegal experts say New Mexico is among a few states that allow polygraph evidence in criminal cases, but a judge has final say over whether one can be used. There are strict requirements for admission.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The case against Timothy Busfield is ongoing, with his detention hearing scheduled to continue. The allegations against him are serious, and the outcome of the case will depend on the evidence presented in court. Melissa Gilbert’s support for her husband has been notable, and her presence at the hearing could be significant.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n