‘Field of Dreams’ and ‘West Wing’ Actor Timothy Busfield Faces Arrest Warrant in New Mexico Child Sexual Abuse Case

An arrest warrant has been issued for Timothy Busfield, the actor and director known for his work in Field of Dreams, The West Wing, and Thirtysomething, in connection with allegations of sexual abuse involving a minor in New Mexico.

According to court documents obtained by KOAT, the investigation began in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted police. An officer was dispatched to the hospital, where they reportedly spoke with two parents who said their children had worked as actors on the Fox series The Cleaning Lady earlier that year.

Busfield served as a director on the show from 2022 through 2025. The warrant alleges that during production, the actor “grew closer to the boys” while working with them on set.

The 68-year-old, who also appeared in Revenge of the Nerds, allegedly asked the children to call him “Uncle Tim” and engaged in physical contact, including tickling them on their stomachs and legs, according to the warrant filed by Albuquerque police on January 4.

Hospital staff reportedly told responding officers that the children appeared to have been groomed, per the court documents.

Busfield now faces two counts of sexual contact with a minor and child abuse. As of Friday afternoon, it remained unclear whether the Emmy-winning actor had been booked.

In addition to his extensive career behind the camera, Busfield has more than 700 combined credits as an actor, producer, and director. He won an Emmy Award in 1991 for his role as Elliot Weston on Thirtysomething, the ABC drama that ran for four seasons from 1987 to 1991 and starred Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Patricia Wettig, and Peter Horton.

He later gained further recognition for his recurring role on The West Wing and appeared in films including Stripes, Sneakers, and Quiz Show.

Busfield is married to Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert. The couple, who wed in 2013 and do not share children, made headlines in November when Gilbert posted rare photos from a day out together.

“This is how we do a date day: Driving through stunning beauty to go get our favorite vegan food and then to see [“Black Phone 2″] followed by grocery shopping,” Gilbert wrote on Instagram alongside the images.

“We are a wild pair [Tim Busfield] and I!” she added.