The Cleaning Lady actor Timothy Busfield is facing serious accusations, as a girl’s father has come forward with disturbing claims following Busfield’s recent charges of allegedly sexually abusing 11-year-old twins.
The 68-year-old actor is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. These charges stem from accusations that he engaged in improper conduct with two 11-year-old brothers who appeared with him on the show.
Additionally, a pretrial detention motion filed on January 14 includes allegations from the father of another victim, who reported that Busfield had allegedly abused his daughter several years prior in Sacramento, California.
The motion details: “While auditioning for [Busfield] at B Street Theatre, the 16-year-old reported that [Busfield] kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”
Colin Swift, speaking with Inside Edition, stated that his daughter was interning in 2001 when the alleged incident occurred.
Swift recounted, “She climbed a little ladder and Tim was below her looking up. She told me she was pulled down. He spun her around. It was reported that he kissed her. It wasn’t a kiss. It was a violation.”
After his daughter disclosed the incident, Busfield allegedly requested the family not inform law enforcement if he underwent therapy. Swift, being a therapist himself, believed at that time it was the appropriate action, but later expressed feeling ‘guilty’ for not reporting to the police.
Busfield has vehemently denied all accusations and released a video before turning himself in, with his wife, Melissa Gilbert, offering her support.
In the video, shared by TMZ, Busfield stated: “Hi everybody, it’s Tim.
“I’m sure most of you know, that are watching this, that I was ordered to come to Albuquerque – I’m here now. I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer. Saturday, I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.
“They’re all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys, and I’m gonna fight it. I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”
He finished by adding: “So hang in there, and hopefully I’m out real soon and back to work. I love everybody for supporting me, thank you.”
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 29.
Requests for comments have been made to Busfield’s representatives.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.