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Timothy Busfieldthe next episode of Law & Order: SVU is no longer airing on NBC after an arrest warrant was issued for child sexual abuse.
Multiple media outlets confirmed that NBC shelved the episode, which featured Busfield, 68, in a guest judge role. It was scheduled to air on Thursday, January 15, but will now be replaced by the SVU episode scheduled for January 22. Busfield previously starred on the hit show in 2011 and directed two episodes in 2019.
An arrest warrant has been issued on Friday, Jan. 9, and charged Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse. According to legal documents obtained by Us every weekchild actor accused Busfield of inappropriate behavior on the set of Fox’s The cleaning ladywhich ended last year.
Busfield directed several episodes of the series when he crossed paths with the child, then 7 years old. The boy alleged that Busfield touched him again several times a year later.
Actor and director Timothy Busfield is facing charges of sexual abuse involving a minor after being accused of misconduct with a child actor on the set of The Cleaning Lady. Busfield – who produced 14 episodes of the Fox series and directed six, as well as an episode as an immigration agent – […]
The child said he was “very scared of Tim and was relieved when he was off set.” The boy had a twin brother, who also starred in the show, and he was “afraid to tell anyone because Tim was the director and he was afraid Tim would get mad at him,” according to the affidavit.
During their investigation, Albuquerque police spoke with Busfield by telephone in November 2025. When asked if he had had “physical contact” with the boys, Busfield reportedly responded that “it was very likely that he did.”
“Timothy said it was a fun environment,” the document says of how Busfield told authorities the physical contact would have occurred “in front of the parents” and “there would never be a weird moment about it.”
He added: “I don’t really remember picking those boys up. … I don’t remember picking those boys up. No, I don’t remember, actually I don’t remember, if that happened, I don’t remember ever openly tickling the boys, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for me.”
Busfield and his wife, actress Melissa Gilbertconfirmed to police that they “indeed had a relationship” with the child actors and their families “outside of work.”
Warner Bros. Television, which co-produced The cleaning ladyreleased a statement to Variety following the announcement of Busfield’s arrest warrant.
The Housekeeper made headlines for minor behind-the-scenes shakeups before the Fox series became the subject of a sex abuse scandal in 2026 – a year after the series ended. Based on the 2017 Argentine television show La Chica Que Limpia, The Maid premiered in 2022 and followed a former surgeon. […]
“The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors in our productions,” they said. “We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate and, if necessary, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have cooperated and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”
Search for Busfield continuesthe Albuquerque Police Department reportedly said People And TMZ Monday, January 12, that the U.S. Marshals Service is assisting APD in its efforts to locate Busfield. An APD spokesperson confirmed that the actor has not yet been arrested and that they are receiving federal assistance in locating him.
If you or someone you know is a victim of child abuse, call or text Helpline for children at 1-800-422-4453.
