U.S. federal marshals have joined a police manhunt for actor and director Timothy Busfield, who is wanted on an arrest warrant alleging serious child sex crimes. The search intensifies days after the warrant was issued, accusing the 68-year-old star of unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys.
Nationwide Search and Allegations
The U.S. Marshals Service is now working alongside the Albuquerque Police Department to locate Busfield. When contacted by People magazine, a police spokesperson stated they were not aware of the actor having been located, detained, or arrested.
The investigation began in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted authorities to alleged sexual abuse. According to the arrest warrant, the parents of the twin victims told police their sons, who were child actors, met Busfield on the set of the now-cancelled Fox series The Cleaning Lady. Busfield served as an executive producer and directed several episodes of the show.
One of the boys, identified in documents as SL, claimed that Busfield touched his "penis and buttocks, masking it as play" on multiple occasions. The alleged abuse reportedly began when the child was just seven years old.
Prior Accusations and Industry Fallout
The warrant reveals that Busfield has faced prior accusations. One child involved has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, fearing retaliation. Busfield allegedly told police the boys' parents were upset their sons were replaced by a younger actor.
Following an anonymous complaint to a SAG-AFTRA hotline about Busfield "tickling and caressing the head and body of minor boys," Warner Bros. launched an investigation into his behaviour on the Albuquerque set. The warrant also notes two prior sexual assault accusations against Busfield that did not result in criminal charges: a 1994 lawsuit from a 17-year-old extra that was settled, and a 2008 groping accusation from a 28-year-old woman that was not prosecuted due to "slim evidence."
Immediate Consequences and Potential Penalties
In light of the arrest warrant, NBC has pulled an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that was set to feature Busfield. The episode, titled "Corrosive," was scheduled to air on January 15, 2026, and will be replaced by another. There is no word on if or when it will be rescheduled.
If found and convicted of the alleged crimes, Busfield faces significant prison time. Under New Mexico law, conviction for such child sex abuse charges carries a minimum of three years in state prison. However, sentencing can increase substantially for sex crimes involving children under the age of 13.
The collaboration between local police and the U.S. Marshals, a federal agency typically involved in apprehending high-profile fugitives, underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the determined effort to bring Busfield into custody.
