Timothy Busfield has been formally indicted on child sex abuse charges in New Mexico, marking a significant escalation in the legal battle against the actor. The Bernalillo County grand jury returned four counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child, all third-degree felonies stemming from allegations of inappropriate touching of minors on the set of "The Cleaning Lady."

The charges emerged from accusations that Busfield engaged in indecent acts with children multiple times between November 2022 and spring 2024. District Attorney Sam Bregman emphasized that Busfield is presumed innocent until proven guilty, while prosecutors from the Special Victims Unit will handle the case. The district attorney had initially sought pretrial detention but lost that plea.

Busfield's release from jail came with strict conditions, including attending all court hearings, avoiding unsupervised contact with minors, and refraining from discussing the case with witnesses. His wife Melissa Gilbert was visibly emotional upon his release, having written letters to the judge seeking leniency. The actor's legal team has presented audio recordings from police interviews with twin boys who initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming these statements contradict later allegations.

The entertainment industry has already responded, with NBC replacing Busfield's guest role on "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" with actor David Zayas. The case continues to unfold as Busfield faces serious felony charges that could result in substantial prison time if convicted.

Quick Fact: Busfield was indicted on four counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child in New Mexico.