New Mexico
Timothy Busfield dropped by talent agency as he makes first court appearance in New Mexico child sex abuse case
Embattled actor Timothy Busfield was dropped by his talent agency on the same day that he appeared inside a New Mexico courtroom for the first time in his child sex abuse case.
Innovative Artists, which is based in Los Angeles and New York, released the 68-year-old actor and director as a client as of Wednesday, Deadline reported.
The agency offered a “fair-sized” team to represent the “West Wing” actor during his several years with the group, according to the outlet.
Busfield’s career hit came after he entered no plea in his first court appearance on disturbing allegations he sexually abused two young boys on the set of a FOX show he directed.
The alleged abuse began in 2022, when the boys were 7 years old on the set of “The Cleaning Lady” in New Mexico.
The ‘Field of Dreams’ actor is accused of inappropriately touching one of the boys three or four times, and the other five or six times, according to the arrest warrant filed Friday.
A criminal investigation began in 2024 when a physician notified police about suspected sexual abuse after examining one of the children at the University of New Mexico Hospital, according to the complaint.
Attorneys for Warner Bros., which produced “The Cleaning Lady,” told cops that a prior independent investigation into the allegations found no evidence to support the claims, the complaint alleged.
Busfield, who is married to former child star Melissa Gilbert, turned himself in to the Albuquerque Police Department on Tuesday.
Busfield was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. He has denied those allegations.
“Tim Busfield denies the allegations in the criminal complaint and maintains they are completely false,” the 68-year-old’s lawyer, Larry Stein, said in a statement to The Post Wednesday.
Follow The Post’s coverage on Timothy Busfield
A third alleged victim, a 16-year-old girl in Sacramento, California, accused Busfield of sexual abuse “several years ago,” according to a motion filed by prosecutors in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, on Jan. 14.
Colin Swift, the alleged victim’s father, reported the incident to investigators on Jan. 13, according to the motion, which was filed to request pretrial detention and was obtained by The Post. Busfield has not been charged in connection with the 16-year-old’s claim.
The father claims Busfield kissed his daughter during an audition with the director before he put his hands down the teen girl’s pants and “touched her privates,” at the B Street Theatre, the motion alleges.
Busfield founded the B Street Theatre, which opened as the Theatre for Children in Sacramento in 1986.
The director allegedly begged for the family to not report the incident to police “if he received therapy,” according to the motion.
Swift, a therapist, agreed “that was the best thing to do” at the time.
The third abuse claim was made the same day Busfield was arrested.
The actor was ordered held without bail and is currently at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque.
New Mexico’s attorney general slammed
“Meta is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,” New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a statement Thursday. “This is is not about technological capability. Meta simply refuses to place the safety of children ahead of …
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A 36-year-old inmate died at the Metropolitan Detention Center after a medical emergency in custody.
The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center said Julian Wilgress was in custody when staff called a medical emergency code at about 1 p.m. on April 28.
MDC said Wilgress was booked into the jail on April 27.
MDC personnel said a medical team from the University of New Mexico Hospital responded, but Wilgress died.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office came to the facility to investigate. MDC’s Office of Professional Standards is also investigating under standard protocol.
The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator will determine the official cause and manner of death.
This marks the second inmate death at MDC after Derrick Benavides died on Monday morning.
April 29, 2026
Update: Last night, increased relative humidity and decreased fire activity aided response efforts on the Sparks Fire. Crews made good progress beginning to establish fireline around the perimeter. Threatened residences received structure protection throughout the night. The fire is zero percent contained.
Today, fire activity is minimal and exhibiting creeping and smoldering behavior. Crews will continue their full suppression strategy to secure the perimeter with the goal of increasing containment. Air attack is on scene to support operations. The fire’s acreage grew to an estimate of 10,000 acres after an initial flyover this morning. However, ground crews will conduct more accurate mapping with GPS as operations allow.
The Sparks Fire was discovered at 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 near HWY 156 in Quay County. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Safety: The primary objective for the Sparks Fire is firefighter and public safety. Structures in the area remain threatened. The public should avoid the area of HWY 156 near milemaker 41 north of Hassell, due to ongoing fire operations.
Evacuations / Closures: None in place.
Weather: Currently 60 degrees F, 51% RH, east winds at 5-10 mph. Today sunny, highs near 76. South wind 5-10 mph. Tonight, a 20 percent chance of showers before midnight.
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Acres: 10,000 estimated.
Containment: 0% contained.
Start Date / Time: 3.20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.
Fuels: Grass, piñon-juniper.
Cause: Under investigation.
Location: HWY 156 mm41.
Ownership: Private.
Structure Threat: Multiple structures.
Smoke: Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Learn more at nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/fireandsmoke.html. An interactive smoke map at fire.airnow.gov allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.
Resources: Forestry Division, Quay County Districts 1, 2, 3, 4; Quay County Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, Cochiti FD, City of Santa Fe FD, Sandoval FD, Multiple VFD including Valley, Forest Fire, Jordan, House, Grady, Broadview, Melrose, Tucumcari, Porter. Total Personnel: 95.
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The Sparks Fire, Wednesday, April 29, looking west from the air. Credit: NM Forestry Division
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