Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman Announces Four-Count Indictment Following Grand Jury Action Tied To Allegations During Television Production In Albuquerque
Friday, February 6, 2026, 7:00 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
ALBUQUERQUE, NM.- Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced Friday that a Bernalillo County grand jury has returned an indictment against actor and director Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child, stemming from allegations involving two minor children during the production of a television series filmed in Albuquerque.
According to court proceedings confirmed by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, the grand jury voted Thursday to indict Busfield on four felony counts under New Mexico law. Prosecutors confirmed the grand jury action on Friday, though the indictment itself had not yet been publicly released at the time of the announcement.
District Attorney Bregman disclosed the indictment through a public statement and social media posting, confirming that the charges arise from alleged conduct connected to Busfield’s work as a director on the Fox television drama “The Cleaning Lady,” which has been filmed in Albuquerque in recent years.
Background Of The Allegations;
The indictment follows a criminal complaint filed earlier this year by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege that Busfield engaged in inappropriate sexual contact involving twin boys during approximately two years of television production, when the children were seven or eight years old. Authorities have stated the children are now 11 years old.
Busfield surrendered himself to authorities on January 13, 2026, after an arrest warrant was issued in connection with the investigation. He was briefly held before appearing in court.
Approximately one week later, a judge ordered Busfield released from custody, ruling that prosecutors had not met the legal threshold necessary to justify continued pretrial detention. The case, however, continued to move forward through the grand jury process.
Scope Of The indictment And Defense Response;
The four counts returned by the grand jury are for criminal sexual contact with a child, which is classified as a third-degree felony under New Mexico law.
Busfield has denied all allegations. In a video recorded prior to surrendering to authorities, Busfield described the accusations as false and stated he expected to be cleared of wrongdoing.
According to defense counsel, the grand jury declined to pursue additional allegations related to grooming that prosecutors had sought. However, the four sexual-contact counts were approved and formally returned as part of the indictment.
Busfield’s legal team did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment following the announcement of the indictment.
About Timothy Busfield;
Timothy Busfield, 68, is a veteran actor and director known for his work in television and film, including roles in “The West Wing,” “Thirtysomething,” and “Field of Dreams.” In addition to acting, Busfield has worked extensively as a director on multiple television productions.
Busfield is married to actor Melissa Gilbert.
If convicted on the charges, Busfield would face sentencing under New Mexico law, with penalties determined by the court based on the severity and number of counts sustained.
Editor’s Note:
Englebrook Independent News reports on criminal allegations with care and precision. A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation and does not constitute a finding of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. This report is based on publicly available court information and reporting released on February 6, 2026, including statements from the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office and contemporaneous local news outlets.
