Timothy Busfield has been released from custody in New Mexico as his criminal case continues—just as a new witness affidavit has surfaced detailing allegations involving a teenage girl from more than two decades ago.
Busfield, 68, was released on his own recognizance after turning himself in earlier this month on charges tied to alleged abuse involving minors. He had been held without bond following his arrest.
The actor and director is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse stemming from accusations involving twin child actors on the set of The Cleaning Lady. Busfield has denied all allegations.
While those charges remain pending, newly filed court documents obtained by Us Weekly reveal testimony from a man named Matthew Moore, who described alleged interactions involving Busfield and a teenage girl in 2000.
According to Moore’s affidavit, he and the alleged victim were both aspiring actors and apprentices at the B Street Theatre, where Busfield was working as a director at the time.
Moore claimed that the girl’s father, Colin Swift, made comments that left him uneasy about his daughter’s relationship with Busfield. Moore alleged that Swift suggested Busfield would advance a television pilot because of his interest in the teen, recalling Swift saying, “They are going to love it because Tim Busfield is going to present it to them.”
Moore further alleged that Swift implied Busfield would feel obligated due to the relationship with his daughter.
Moore also stated that he witnessed the teenage girl giving Busfield a shoulder massage during a class. In his affidavit, Moore said he did not observe Busfield initiating physical contact and claimed nothing appeared “to be predatory or abusive” during that interaction.
Following the more recent allegations involving child actors, Swift reportedly contacted authorities about his daughter’s past claims. In a pretrial motion, Swift alleged that Busfield kissed his daughter and touched her inappropriately. Busfield has not been criminally charged in connection with the teenage allegations and has denied them through his attorney.
The unfolding case has also drawn public support from Busfield’s wife, Melissa Gilbert, who wrote a letter to the judge defending her husband’s character and asking the court to protect him while in custody. Her letter was one of dozens submitted on his behalf.
If you suspect child sexual abuse or trafficking, help is available. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) and is available 24/7. Reports involving child exploitation or trafficking can also be made to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST.