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Alleged Grooming Operation on Fox Set
Authorities say Busfield ran a disturbing grooming operation targeting two twin boys on the set of Fox’s The Cleaning Lady between November 2022 and spring 2024.
Court documents allege that he positioned himself as a father figure from the start, instructing the boys to call him “Uncle Tim”—a classic tactic investigators have seen repeatedly.
“In my training and experience, pedophiles often infiltrate families under a trusted role, like Timothy, who, as a producer, exploited the hectic film sets to tickle and touch [the boy] on his penis and buttocks, masking it as play,” wrote Albuquerque Police Officer Marvin Brown in the complaint.
Busfield reportedly invited the family to off-set gatherings where his wife, Melissa Gilbert, bought the children Christmas presents. One child told investigators the abuse began at age seven, with touching over clothing, and continued into age eight. The boy feared speaking up, worried about upsetting the director.
Studio Investigation Missed the Abuse
The allegations first came to light in November 2024 when a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted police after the boys’ parents brought them in. Initially, authorities concluded the case didn’t meet the criteria for their Crimes Against Children Unit.
In February 2025, an anonymous complaint filed through SAG-AFTRA’s hotline alleged a separate incident: Busfield kissing a minor in the hair and makeup trailer during a haircut. Warner Bros launched an internal investigation, hiring attorney Christina McGovern to review the claims.
Her conclusion? “Based on what was alleged, and all evidence gathered, including multiple witness statements, I found no corroborating evidence that Mr. Busfield engaged in inappropriate conduct or that he was ever alone with the twins on set.”
Meanwhile, one boy was diagnosed with PTSD due to nightmares of the alleged abuse, and the other reported repeated sexual contact. Yet the studio concluded nothing was wrong—a glaring example of Hollywood’s recurring blind spot.
The Industry’s Long-Standing Problem
This case echoes past scandals, from Nickelodeon’s “Quiet on Set” investigation to Harvey Weinstein’s decades-long shielded behavior, and even Roman Polanski’s escape from justice. Corey Feldman warned in 2011 that pedophilia was “the number one problem” in Hollywood—but the industry largely ignored him.
Drake Bell later exposed abuse by dialogue coach Brian Peck, who had previously received letters of support from the industry. Now, allegations suggest a major network production allowed alleged abuse to continue for two years, while the studio found “no corroborating evidence.”
Busfield’s Defense
When interviewed by police in November 2025, Busfield admitted it was “highly likely” he had physical contact with the children but claimed he couldn’t recall specifics.
“I don’t really remember picking those boys up. I remember picking up the boy who followed them. I’d pick him up, and he’d be giggling, and that would sort of get him ready to act,” Busfield said.
His lawyer, Larry Stein, reinforced this defense: “He didn’t do anything wrong. These accusations are false as the investigator from the independent law firm found.”
Busfield also recorded a video from his lawyer’s office, stating: “I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” after traveling 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.
Court Documents Detail Grooming Tactics
Officer Brown described the alleged grooming: “He would invite the family to off-set gatherings, with his wife buying Christmas gifts to foster closeness, making [the boy] feel special and dependent — classic grooming to erode boundaries, isolate the victim, and silence suspicions by blending abuse into normalcy.”
The arrest warrant also revealed prior sexual assault allegations from 1994 and 2012, though no charges were filed.
NBC pulled a Law & Order: SVU episode featuring Busfield, and Melissa Gilbert deleted her social media accounts. A representative stated she “stands with and supports her husband” but would not comment further.
Legal Consequences Ahead
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman confirmed the office will seek to keep Busfield detained while proceedings continue. Conviction could bring a minimum of three years in prison, with much longer sentences possible under New Mexico law for crimes involving children under 13.
The Cleaning Lady aired for four seasons on Fox from 2022 to 2025. Busfield, an Emmy winner for Thirtysomething in 1991, also directed episodes of This Is Us, Chicago Med, and FBI.
Two boys with PTSD tell a chilling story, while a studio investigation reports “no evidence.” Hollywood claims it is committed to child safety, but skepticism grows—because for decades, trust alone hasn’t been enough to protect children.
