A veteran television actor is facing serious legal trouble after New Mexico authorities issued an arrest warrant tied to disturbing allegations involving a child. Timothy Busfield, widely recognized for his role as Danny Concannon on The West Wing, is now under scrutiny over claims of child sex abuse allegedly committed on a TV series set.
According to law enforcement documents, New Mexico authorities have charged Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor. The allegations stem from incidents said to have occurred during the production of the Fox series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield served as both an actor and director. The show wrapped production in 2025.
The investigation reportedly began in 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted authorities to concerns involving a child. At the time, the case was not pursued. It was later reopened in September 2025 after the child disclosed to a counselor that Busfield had allegedly touched their genitals and buttocks. Following that disclosure, Albuquerque police revived the case, leading to the arrest warrant issued on Friday.
According to the criminal complaint, the child claims the alleged abuse occurred three to four times between 2022 and early 2024, when they were between seven and eight years old. The complaint alleges the incidents took place on set and that the child felt intimidated due to Busfield’s authority as a director, fearing retaliation if they spoke up.
After the child’s mother reported the allegations to Child Protective Services, the child was reportedly diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented recurring nightmares in which the child would wake up frightened, allegedly connected to the incidents. The warrant further claims Busfield encouraged children on set to call him “Uncle Tim” and engaged in tickling, behavior investigators flagged as concerning.
The case has drawn added attention because Busfield is married to actress Melissa Gilbert. Just weeks before the arrest warrant was issued, Gilbert publicly reflected on her own experiences with inappropriate expectations placed on child actors. In a November 2025 Instagram post, she described being pressured at age 15 to portray a romantic relationship with an older co-star while filming Little House on the Prairie.
In her post, Gilbert wrote that viewing those experiences through a modern lens was “shocking,” emphasizing that she was a child at the time. Her comments have resurfaced amid the allegations against her husband, amplifying public scrutiny.
Reports indicate Busfield spoke with authorities by phone in November 2025, during which he acknowledged that physical contact with children on set was “highly likely.” However, according to the affidavit, he said he does not recall specific incidents of tickling and claimed such behavior would be uncommon for him.
Busfield has not been arrested as of now, and all allegations remain unproven. Authorities have confirmed the arrest warrant is active as the case continues to unfold, drawing widespread attention and renewed conversations about child safety on film and television sets.
