Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield was ordered held without bond at his first court appearance in New Mexico on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The decision came a day after Busfield turned himself in to face charges of child sex abuse tied to allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor while directing a television series in Albuquerque.
Busfield appeared remotely from jail via a video link during the brief Wednesday hearing. He was booked Tuesday, and whether he remains in jail is expected to be addressed at a detention hearing scheduled within five business days.
Albuquerque police issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest last week on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque.
Prosecutors asked that Busfield remain in custody pending trial and filed a motion early Wednesday. The motion described what prosecutors characterized as a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority and grooming behavior by Busfield over two decades, and said witnesses have expressed fear of retaliation and professional harm.
Defense attorney Larry Stein told AP that Busfield submitted to an independent polygraph test within the last couple of days. Stein said there was “no deception — (he) passed the polygraph test,” and said the defense plans “on responding in detail to establish that he should not be detained” as the case proceeds.
A professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Laurie Levenson, said New Mexico is among a few states that allow polygraph evidence in criminal cases, but that a judge would have final say over whether it can be used and that there are strict requirements for admission. Levenson said the polygraph “may not be a test that qualifies,” but described it as something that could help the defense “maybe both in the court of public opinion.”
In its detention motion, prosecutors said research and experience show that offenders can evade accountability and circumvent safeguards designed to protect children when they wield authority, status or influence. The motion also said: “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 also took issue with Busfield disseminating a video to TMZ on Tuesday, suggesting he was prioritizing “personal narrative control and public relations” over compliance with the court process.
The criminal complaint says an investigator reported that a child told police he was 7 when Busfield touched him multiple times on private areas over his clothing, and that Busfield allegedly touched him again on another occasion when he was 8. The complaint further says the child reported being afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared Busfield would get mad at him.
The complaint says the child’s twin brother also told authorities he was touched by Busfield, though he did not specify where. It says the brother did not say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble. The complaint also says the boys’ mother reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024.
Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, denied the allegations in an interview with police last fall and suggested that the boys’ mother was seeking revenge because her children were replaced on the series, an account echoed by Busfield’s attorney Tuesday. The investigation began in November 2024 after a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, according to the complaint, which says the boys’ parents had gone there on a law firm’s recommendation.
Busfield’s attorney said an independent investigation by Warner Bros. was unable to corroborate allegations of inappropriate behavior, while prosecutors, in their filing, argued the investigator failed to talk to key witnesses.