Just days before Timothy Busfield was denied bail, the 68-year-old actor faced multiple charges of child sexual abuse. Following his lawyer’s recommendation, he underwent a psychosexual evaluation.
According to court documents presented on January 17, Busfield attended an evaluation on January 12. This assessment was aimed at gauging his risk of committing a sexual offense compared to someone with a prior conviction. During this unsettling evaluation, he had to answer probing questions about his intimate relationship with his wife, Melissa Gilbert.
The evaluation noted, “Mr. Busfield claims that he and his wife share a fulfilling sex life, enjoying their companionship, often preferring to cuddle over sexual activity.” Gilbert supported this assertion, confirming a satisfactory sexual relationship.
In addition, the assessment revealed Busfield’s views on sexuality. He mentioned, “Maturity is crucial for understanding sexual relationships,” and suggested that sex is a natural human experience, with emotions often awakening during puberty. He stated he only realized the importance of companionship after marrying Melissa.
After a comprehensive assessment of his family background and social interactions, the conclusions indicated that Busfield was rated as a “very low risk” for recidivism.
Fox News legal analyst Donna Rotunno suggested the intent behind the assessment was to demonstrate that Busfield posed “no threat to society.” She noted, “It’s essential to be candid during these evaluations, and he hopes this will influence the judge’s perception of him.” She added that it’s typical to involve a spouse for verification of his honesty.
Court documents also included over 75 letters from colleagues and acquaintances, all asserting that they had never witnessed any inappropriate behavior from Busfield. Gilbert submitted a supportive letter to the court, stating, “Tim is my love, my rock, and my partner in life and business. His joy and humor brighten my life… he is the heart of our family.”
In her testimony, Gilbert expressed a deep understanding of Busfield, describing him as kind and principled. “He has a strong moral compass,” she wrote, adding that he dedicates himself to helping others and starts each day with kindness.
The police investigation into the allegations against Busfield was initiated on November 1, 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico raised concerns about potential sexual abuse. Two 11-year-old twins claimed they were inappropriately touched on the set of “Cleaning Women” by a director who instructed them to call him “Uncle Tim.” One twin alleged that an incident occurred in a bedroom on set where she was touched inappropriately through her clothing. Hospital staff reportedly indicated that the children showed signs of being “groomed.”
Representatives for Warner Bros. Television stated, “The safety of our cast and crew is paramount, especially that of minors. We take all misconduct allegations seriously and have systems to ensure thorough investigations.” They affirmed their ongoing cooperation with law enforcement.
A makeup artist indicated that crew members were aware of Busfield’s troubling behavior, labeling him as “creepy.” An audio recording played in court revealed the twins were questioned by police about unwanted touching, to which they responded no.
Busfield turned himself in on January 13, facing charges related to child sexual abuse. At the time of his arrest, he was held without bail on two counts of criminal sexual contact and one count of child abuse.
He maintains his innocence. Prosecutors argued strongly for his pretrial detention, claiming he represented an ongoing threat to children. They pointed to a “pattern of grooming” and misuse of his authority as a professional.
During a press conference on January 15, District Attorney Sam Bregman updated the media on the case. Busfield is charged with two counts of sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. New Mexico law stipulates a maximum sentence of six years in prison for each sexual contact charge and up to three years for child abuse. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
Busfield’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 20, where a decision will be made on his custody status pending trial.
