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Topics: Celebrity, Crime, Sexual Abuse, US News, Police, News, Film and TV
Callum Jones
Topics: Celebrity, Crime, Sexual Abuse, US News, Police, News, Film and TV
Warning: This article contains allegations of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Officials have provided an update in the manhunt to locate Timothy Busfield after an arrest warrant was issued alleging the actor sexually abused 11-year-old twin boys.
The West Wing actor is alleged to have inappropriately touched the minors after an investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department filed a criminal complaint in support of the charge last week (January, 9).
The alleged incident is said to have occurred on the set of The Cleaning Lady, which Busfield appeared in and also directed.
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As well as one count of child abuse, the actor is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
The 68-year-old remains at large and has not yet been apprehended by police.
Albuquerque Police Department have provided an update on the case to People, stating they are now working with the US Marshals Service to locate and detain Busfield.
People asked local police if the actor had been located, to which a spokesperson responded: "Not that I am aware."
Dr Tyler Christensen from the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) called for a sexual abuse investigation in 2024, according to the arrest warrant.
Police subsequently spoke to the boys' parents, who told law enforcement that their children would refer to Busfield as 'Uncle Tim'.
An affidavit stated: "The boys advised that Timothy Busfield, whom they referred to as 'Uncle Tim', would tickle them on the stomach and legs. Neither boy cared for the tickling.
"Officer Osborn contacted Detective Michael Brown with the Crimes Against Children Unit and determined that the case did not meet their acceptance criteria at this time."
One of the minors alleged the incidents began when he was seven years old, according to the arrest warrant.
Warner Bros., the primary producer of The Cleaning Lady, said in a statement to UNILAD they 'will continue to cooperate with law enforcement' following Busfield's arrest warrant.
They added in a statement: "The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action."
UNILAD has previously reached out to Busfield's representatives for comment.
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.