Emmy Winning Actor Charged with Child Sex Abuse

00:00:10
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Sunday, January eleventh, and a director and Emmy Award winning actor is facing charges of child sex abuse, accused by two child actors who once worked for him. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Roves. This is one of those Casesn't fair to say the actor here is a name that's not immediately familiar, but you see the face and you go, oh.

00:00:40
Speaker 2: Him, Yes, exactly one of those cases. Yes, his name is Timothy Bussfield. That would not have rung any bells for me. For a lot of you, it may have, but when you see his face, you'll say, oh, that guy, that guy who starred in thirty something, that guy who starred in West Wing, that guy who won won an Emmy and has seven hundred and fifty professional credits to his name.

00:01:02
Speaker 1: And also you had to remind me also who he's married to. Yes, that I didn't register me at all.

00:01:08
Speaker 2: I had forgotten that this had happened. It seemed like a very happy third marriage for both of them, and maybe it still is. But he is married to Melissa Gilbert aka Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. She is and was probably one of my childhood just obsessions. I love Melissa Gilbert. She was on GMA three with us, a lovely woman and actually has recently spoken out against child sexual abusers. So this is a very disturbing story.

00:01:41
Speaker 1: Now, is it fair to say that, even if you didn't know his name, when you hear her name, did you know immediately who she was married to?

00:01:49
Speaker 2: Not necessarily, No, because this is a third marriage for both. So this is something. This is love they found later in life. They've been together I believe for about ten years now, and I went back and there were a lot of articles at actually in the last few years of their love story how they found love again, how third times a charmed So no, I didn't necessarily connect the two of them.

00:02:08
Speaker 1: Together, all right, So Timothy Bussfield is the name, and we assure you you will know his face. He has been around for decades in this business now, A lot of like you said, thirty something that was the nineties, was it not that that show was out and he had multiple I think Emmy nominations for that, but actually did win an Emmy for that show. Of course, he was on West Wing, a hit show as well. He played a very very prominent character. He was a reporter for the Washington Post. I was just very much into that and remember his romance with Alison Jenny Jenny, yes, character on that show. So a lot of people will remember that. But he has been also very involved in producing and directing over the past several years as well. And it is in that capacity as a director that he was working on a show called The Cleaning Lady. Now a lot of people might remember because it was a It did have at least four seasons, I think, but it had a pretty big promotional push and a LOADI Young I believe is her name, the one who was the lead on that. You've seen her around enough and enough high profile things. But he was director on that show. Directed two boys on the show at the age of seven and eight. They were brothers. That is where the accusations are coming from. Two boys on the show. And now Tim bussfil has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor. And this is coming out of an arrestaurant in Albuquerque. Now we're going to get into some more details, but Robes I thought it was the best way to sum up what we're dealing with here. The affidavit, the arrest report from the officer who was investigating. He goes through the affidavit, goes through and gives all the details, evidence, interviews, he's done. But then at the bottom he gives his conclusion. And it's the conclusion he gave based on his experience that he wrote in there that kind of sums up. I thought, Robes and I thought this was a good way to kind of introduce or let the listeners know what we're talking about her.

00:04:00
Speaker 2: Yes, as we were researching the story, you said, Babe, if you read anything, read the conclusion to the affidavit, because boy does it say a lot. And here is how it reads. In my training and experience, pedophiles often infiltrate families under a trusted role, like Timothy, who, as a producer, exploited the hectic film sets to tickle and touch victim on his penis and buttocks, making it masking it as play. He would invite the family to offset gatherings, his wife buying Christmas gifts to foster closeness, making the victim feel special and dependent. Classic grooming to erode boundaries, isolate the victim and silent suspicions by blending abuse into normalcy. This dual tactic, charming parents while secretly violating the child, builds a web of complicity that is hard to unravel, delaying detection as families trust the abuser's facade.

00:05:00
Speaker 1: It is his conclusion again, this is an investigator, and after all he put together and all he investigated in all his interviews, this is the conclusion he had, now, Robes, I read through the affidavit before getting to that conclusion, and I was trying to piece it together and what the story is when that landed, he is flat out making an accusation here, or is of the belief that this wasn't just horseplay, this wasn't just an isolated incident. He is accusing at least this officer of his belief that this was more than a moment or two, that this guy is a pedophile.

00:05:37
Speaker 2: He makes no bones about it, and he talks about the strategy, the premeditation, and the function which he chose to do what police say he did to these boys. And that's what the boys and the boys the way they told it, it didn't all come out at once. It was a classic situation where they first just kind of talked about how he tickled them, right, So he did grow closer to the boys. He was in charge of making sure he was directing them, So that was not anything out of the ordinary for him to have contact with them, to be talking to them, to be having private moments with them, perhaps to direct them. But when the parents found out correct that he had reports of being perhaps inappropriate with women, they decided to ask their children about their relationship with him, and they actually asked him, have you, as anybody ever touched you inappropriately? And their response was pretty chilling, You mean, like uncle Tim. That is frightening as a parent to hear. And so they followed up and they had an interview with the police and that's when the boys just said, hey, he would tickle us on our stomach and legs, and that's as far as they went. And so that was back in twenty twenty four, correct in November, and police made the decision at that point that it did not meet the standards to charge him, so they let it go. They didn't pursue further investigation. They didn't pursue what he charges until recently when the boys finally did admit they said that they were sexually abused and.

00:07:18
Speaker 1: Again, what the what it's supposed to happen at least a couple of things on set. We understand is that when you have kids this young, they're supposed to have constant supervision. Constant supervision means not just adults around, but someone is assigned to them. They have what they called a teacher that's supposed to be with the kids. But the teacher that is assigned to be on set admitted in this affidavit that at times with the hectic set, that no, they weren't always they didn't always have eyes on the boys, they weren't always with the boys. And sometimes, yes, the kids could have alone moments with someone else, And they said, it's not odd for a director to have a one on one moment with an actor. They set this up in the affidavit at least I read robes suggesting that there were times, there were moments, there were opportunities, even on a busy set, for a man to find a way to be alone with a child is what the affidavit reads. It was also this issue they brought up of iPads on set, that parents, it's a closed set, nobody's supposed to see anything, but when they're kids involved parents are allowed to have an iPads to which they could essentially keep an eye on their kids. The affidavit suggests that this was a practice that was done away with by Timothy Bussfield when he joined and became a director on the set. What that could mean, I don't know, but it was relevant enough that the officer thought he should put that in the report. Now, of course Timothy Bussville was spoken to. They did talk to him as well as a part of this. And Roves, I don't know how to necessarily characterize the I guess the back and forth between police and Buzsfield. He was open and he talked to them on the phone. But then some of his answers were a bit confusing. But the quotes, particularly and specifically, I should say, are in the affidavit.

00:09:03
Speaker 2: The quotes are actually quite alarming, would you not agree? I mean, when I read them, it was actually shocking to me what he said and how he said it.

00:09:12
Speaker 1: Again, we're trying to piece something together, and you when somebody says to you you're accused of touching a child inappropriately, you would think the answer would be pretty forceful.

00:09:24
Speaker 2: Oh hell no, I never turned the table.

00:09:26
Speaker 1: Over screaming and yelling, who the hell said this, Let's get to the bott let's get this worked out right now. And it wasn't exactly what he said, all.

00:09:32
Speaker 2: Right, So they asked Timothy what the protocol was for touching children, picking them up, just touching them just in general on this set. He asked if that was allowed, And here's what Timothy told police. Initially, It's not allowed at all. There is no there's no protocol. I mean, I'm always around people, right, it would be it would be, you know, in front of the parents. There would never be a weird mo mom about it. I don't really remember picking those boys up. I remember picking up the boy who followed them. I'd pick him up and he'd be giggling and that would sort of get him ready to act. Then Timothy said this, I don't remember those boys. No, I don't. I don't actually, I don't remember it. If it happened. I don't remember overly tickling the boys ever, but it wouldn't be uncommon for me. I don't know.

00:10:31
Speaker 1: He's trying to piece it together. Is this the phone call where he was his wife was on as well.

00:10:35
Speaker 2: Yes, I believe that was all happening.

00:10:37
Speaker 1: They described the officer at least of saying that Timothy Busfelt was on speakerphone with his wife's say your name it Melissa, Melissa gil Gilbert was on the phone at the time, and that was the answer that he gave it. It's confusing, it's you don't want I don't know how to get into his mind and try to understand or interpret what might have been going on on set and how it could have been misinterpreted by someone else. But to your point earlier ropes, this wasn't a thing where one incident was misinterpreter or two people saw one incident and it was you know, this was the boys were asked. This came from therapists, This came from other people on set seeing things over time as well with the parents. So this wasn't a one off so that they said it happened multiple times. All the boys were seven and eight years old on set multiple times, and there was also a situation in there they'd described in the Affidavid, I think it was the teacher or someone on set that followed one of the boys that was a sign to him said something happened. He went from being thrilled and excited and jumping around on that set every day to flat out not wanting to be there at all. She's described it as a stark and disturbing change that was inexplicable.

00:11:56
Speaker 2: Wow. Wow, and just that do you mean Uncle Tim? He wanted the boys to call him Uncle Tim? He said that was part of it. And look that in and of itself isn't anything unusual necessarily, but just to have your kids, I'm just imagining that moment when you say has anyone ever touched you inappropriately? And your children? Your child immediately says, like, Uncle Tim, that's That's just a horrific moment when maybe all of your suspicions, some of the weirdness you're sensing, the energy, you're feeling, your kids, changing their disposition, changing how they acted and reacted about wanting to go to the set and about wanting to come home, all of that just falls into line when you hear that sentence from your child.

00:12:40
Speaker 1: And as of this moment, do I have right ropes that we haven't gott an official statement response, even from a lawyer from a bustfelt right.

00:12:47
Speaker 2: There's nothing from the bus Field camp. In fact, we don't even know right now whether or not. He is currently in custody. We know there is a warrant issued for his arrest. The last I saw, I believe they lived in upstate New York. They might have a home in New York City as well. So this is in New Mexico. So it's unclear what's happening right there in the legal process.

00:13:05
Speaker 1: All right, Well, we mentioned Ellidi Young is the woman's name who was the lead on the Cleaning Lady. Well, police reached out to her as well, and they did, in fact set up an interview with her. That interview, however, did not happen. Stay here. We'll explain the voicemail the officer said he got from the star of the show that made clear she wanted nothing to do with this. We'll also tell you what Warner Brothers had to say. Stay here, all right, We continue here on Amy and TJ. Timothy Bussfil a name of an actor you might not know, but you certainly know his name. You know his excuse me, know his face, and you know his work over the past several decades, from thirty Something where he won an Emmy, to West Wing where he played a prominent role, and his life now again, she is one of I mean, she is a what do you put her in pop culture?

00:14:06
Speaker 2: She's an icon. She's an icon from the seventies and eighties, playing half pint, playing Lori Ingles Wilder in Little House in the Prairie and so interesting, babe, because just a couple of weeks ago, she wrote a whole op ed and actually weighed in on child sex abuse on movie sets, on television sets, on production sets, because she said she was forced to have a romantic experience with we It was Almanda Almlonzo. Yes, I forgot her love interest in the show was like a full ten something years older than her, and she was in her like early teens, like fourteen fifteen, and she talked about how that was inappropriate. So it's so I mean, ironic is, for lack of a better word, that she just was outspoken about this issue about what happens on sex on sets and how there isn't enough protection for younger actors on sets in these types of situations. And so to now have her husband be at the center of a criminal investigation and have charges now filed against him is not I mean, irony is the only word to use.

00:15:15
Speaker 1: And of course the cleaning lady were talking about. He was directing on set there. This was a Warner Brother set. They did put out a statement simply saying that they take of course, this is stuff you're used to hearing, but they did acknowledge that they are aware of the charges against mister buss Phil and they will continue to cooperate with law enforcement. They also did their own investigation, which nothing came of that. Correct, So here we are now. Elidi Young. Did you know her face? The actress from the cleaning lanbe I know.

00:15:46
Speaker 2: Her face, Yes, I didn't know her name. Same kind of situation as Timothy bussefelt.

00:15:50
Speaker 1: Yeah, but a French actress that's been making her way and doing more here in the US. I remember her in particularly if you've seen The Hitman's Bodyguard with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson. I've been trying to get you to watch this movie for a while. It is hilarious action fact and it's just those two dudes. It's fun. But she plays a very prominent role and a memorable one. She's the ex girlfriend of Ryan Reynolds. Oh, and she matches his you know how he is and his scenes. She matches his fire and energy in the first time I'd ever seen her, and I was impressed with her. But she got the lead on this show, The Cleaning Lady, and so they reached out to her to ask about the investigation and what she might know, and she said, sure, I'll talk to you. They set up an interview that was supposed to take place on one day. The day before, they got a call said I changed my mind. The way the officer put it, said, Leddie left me a voicemail declining to speak with me and said that she does not want to be involved with the investigation and that she would not have any information that could assist in this case. And that was it. That was at least for me. The Affidavid says, called, She's sure, whatever you need, here's a time, here's a place, let's meet. And then she had a change of heart pretty quickly and the day before said nope, I want nothing to do with it. Got nothing the same.

00:17:13
Speaker 2: That's interesting, and we also did hear at least in some of the reporting that Timothy Bussfield has suggested that perhaps the parents are doing this again. They are upset that their children were essentially written out of the script and were no longer a part of the show. And so the one thing we have heard from him through some of the affidavits and what they've released in terms of the investigation, his point of view is that this is retribution for those kids no longer being a part of the storyline.

00:17:51
Speaker 1: Yes, and that is a part of the Affidavid, So that is him giving a defense without officially coming out. But he was defending himself at least as terms of this AffA day. It says the officer thought it was important enough. He has listed two previous allegations against him Busville from nineteen ninety four and twenty twelve, one involving a twenty eight year old woman, the other involving a seventeen year old who was an extra on Little Big League. Now, nothing came, no charges were filed in either one of them, we should say, but the officer at least thought it was important enough to mention it in the affidavit and included it in there.

00:18:28
Speaker 2: And perhaps the parents finding out about those allegations prompted them to ask their children a few questions. So right now a lot of people pointing fingers. We don't know exactly obviously what comes next, but we do know that Timothy Bussfield will be at least at some point taken into custody. There will have to be some sort of hearing where there will be some sort of bond hearing, and we'll figure out where he is, if he has to remain behind bars, if he's able to post bail and see his day in the court. But we will certainly continue to follow this story. We appreciate you as always listening to us. Thank you so much. I'm Amy Roeboch alongside T. J. Holmes. People talk to you