US Marshals seek Timothy Busfield after child sex abuse allegations

Entertainment

US Marshals seek Timothy Busfield after child sex abuse allegations

Timothy Busfield, best known for his roles on 'Thirtysomething' and 'The West Wing,' allegedly touched child multiple times when victim was 7 and 8 years old

Christina Dugan Ramirez Fox News

Published

January 13, 2026 9:43am EST

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Days after authorities in New Mexico issued an arrest warrant for "Thirtysomething" alum Timothy Busfield on child sex abuse charges, the U.S. Marshals stepped in, taking over efforts to locate and apprehend the actor.

"Albuquerque Police Department is working with the U.S. Marshal Service to get Mr. Busfield into custody," APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos told Deadline on Monday of the DOJ’s primary agency for fugitive investigations. "I do not have a timeline."

On Jan. 9, an arrest warrant for the director and Emmy Award-winning actor was issued, according to the Associated Press.

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On Jan. 9, an arrest warrant for Timothy Busfield was issued for child abuse charges. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)

An investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department filed a criminal complaint in support of the charge, which says a child reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately.

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The alleged acts — which allegedly happened when the child was 7 years old — occurred on the set of "The Cleaning Lady," a TV series Busfield directed and acted in. Busfield allegedly touched the child three or four times, and again, another five or six times when the child was 8.

An investigation into the allegations against Busfield reportedly began in November 2024. (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

"The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions," a representative from Warner Bros. Television told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement."

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The police investigation into the allegations against Busfield began on Nov. 1, 2024, according to People, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted officers about a case of alleged sexual abuse.

Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield married in 2013. (Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Busfield's wife, "Little House on the Prairie" actress Melissa Gilbert, reportedly deleted her Instagram account after the arrest warrant was issued.

Gilbert and Busfield married in 2013.

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Christina Dugan Ramirez is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital.

US Marshals seek Timothy Busfield after child sex abuse allegations