Court filings in actor Timothy Busfield’s child sexual abuse case in New Mexico reveal allegations of a similar nature against him at a theater he and his brother founded in California in 1986.
The new allegation appears in a document filed by Bernalillo County prosecutors this week urging that the Emmy-winning actor continue to be held without bond, KOAT reported.
Busfield turned himself in earlier on Tuesday after he was charged with inappropriately touching twin boys he was directing for his series “The Cleaning Lady,” as CrimeOnline reported.
The 68-year-old actor is best known for his roles in “The West Wing” and “thirtysomething,” for which he won a supporting actor Emmy in 1991.
The charges filed against Busfield indicate the abuse reportedly happened between 2022 and 2024. Warner Bros. subsequently conducted its own investigation and determined that they could not find any evidence that Busfield acted inappropriately.
The criminal complaint indicated that during questioning with Albuquerque police, Busfield admitted that it was “highly likely” that he would have touched the children on that particular set, as it was a “playful environment.”
“I mean, I’m always around people, right? It would be, you know, in front of the parents. There would never be a weird moment about it,” Busfield told police during a November 2025 interview with police.
Busfield also allegedly claimed that the mother of the children was upset when she learned her kids would not be returning to the show for its final season.
The new allegation involves a 16-year-old girl who was auditioning for Busfield’s B Street Theatre in Sacramento, the filing says. The girl’s father says that Busfield abused the girl “several years ago,” claiming that he “kissed her, put his hands down her pants and touched her privates,” the documents say.
“The defendant begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy” according to the filing.
The girl’s father, who was a therapist, agreed, the documents say. He “thought at the time that was the best thing to do.”
B Street Theatre released a statement on Tuesday noting that “Busfield does not have any role presently with B Street Theatre” having left the organization in 2001 except to be listed as “an emeritus member of the board.”
“However he has not attended a board meeting in that capacity since 2001,” the theater said.
The theater conducted an internal investigation about Busfield the very same year he withdrew from direct work with the organization, the Mercury News reported.
Busfield and his brother Buck Busfield founded the theater as Theatre for Children in 1986. Six years later, it broadened its offerings and changed its name to B Street Theatre. Although Timothy Busfield left in 2001, his brother remained as producing artistic director and manager until he retired in 2022.
The New Mexico court filings also indicate two two other sexual assault allegations, KOAT said. One, against a 17-year-old extra on the 1994 film “Little Big League,” led to a private settlement. Busfield also also had to pay attorney costs when he countersued for defamation and lost.
Another allegation of sexual battery at a Los Angeles movie theater, against a 28-year-old woman, was not prosecuted due to insufficient evidence, the New Mexico documents say.
Busfield has called the New Mexico allegations “lies.” He is expected to appear in court for a hearing on the bond issue on Tuesday, KRQE reported.
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[Featured image: Timothy Busfield/Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office]
