Melissa Gilbert was present during a phone interview between her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield, and police investigators amid an inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct, according to an arrest warrant issued in New Mexico.
The warrant, filed Friday, Jan. 9, by the Albuquerque Police Department, alleges that Busfield, 68, engaged in unlawful sexual conduct involving two child actors who were 11-year-old twin boys at the time of disclosure. One of the boys alleged the conduct began when he was 7.
According to the warrant, an investigator contacted Busfield for a phone interview on Nov. 3, 2025. Busfield told police he was in New York during the call and said his wife, Gilbert, 61, was listening on speakerphone.
During the interview, Busfield reportedly told investigators that the children’s parents were upset after their sons were replaced with a younger actor. He also stated that he later received a call from a studio informing him that a complaint had been filed and was under investigation.
The investigation began Nov. 1, 2024, after a physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted authorities to a possible case of sexual abuse involving minors. Police later spoke with the boys’ parents, who said their children were actors and had met Busfield while working on the television series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield served as a director.
According to the warrant, professionals later suggested the boys may have been groomed. Authorities initially determined the case did not meet acceptance criteria at that time.
In October 2025, the children’s mother filed a formal police report and contacted Child Protective Services, stating that both children disclosed sexual abuse allegedly occurring between November 2022 and spring 2024. The warrant notes she was initially told that because there were no allegations of physical injury, no immediate action could be taken.
Investigators later determined that Busfield and Gilbert had a personal relationship with the children and their family outside of professional settings.
According to statements cited in the warrant, Busfield and Gilbert attended social gatherings with the family and purchased Christmas gifts for the boys. The investigator wrote that the gift-giving and invitations to off-set gatherings were intended to foster closeness with the family.
The warrant also references prior sexual assault allegations against Busfield dating back to 1994, which did not result in criminal charges.
Busfield is known for his roles in television series including Thirtysomething and The West Wing. He and Gilbert, a former child actor and television star, married in 2013.
Representatives for both Busfield and Gilbert have not publicly commented on the allegations.
A representative for the production studio previously stated that the safety of cast and crew, particularly minors, is a top priority, adding that allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and that the company cooperates with law enforcement investigations.
The case remains under investigation.
If you suspect child abuse, help is available through the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). The hotline operates 24/7 and provides confidential support.