Sources inside the Albuquerque Police Department say the Hollywood studio’s alleged stonewalling delayed the case by nearly three months, allowing Busfield, 68, to remain free while detectives struggled to obtain key information.
“They treated us like we were Mayberry,” one law enforcement source told the Daily Mail, invoking the famously sleepy TV town to describe what they saw as the studio’s dismissive attitude toward the probe.
In a sworn affidavit supporting Busfield’s arrest warrant, the lead investigator accused Warner Bros of making the case “very difficult,” alleging the company delayed complying with court orders and created an atmosphere of fear among employees who might speak to police.
Busfield finally turned himself in Tuesday in Albuquerque — four days after an arrest warrant was issued — driving more than 2,000 miles from his secluded home in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Less than an hour later, heavily armed U.S. Marshals stormed the property.
The actor now faces two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse, stemming from allegations by twin brothers who worked as child actors on his TV series The Cleaning Lady. Their parents say Busfield, whom the boys allegedly called “Uncle Tim,” fondled them beginning when they were just seven years old.
According to police, Warner Bros waited nearly three months to turn over the findings of its own independent investigation — despite a court order. Officers also allege the studio insisted all communication go through its attorneys and warned that employees were fearful of retaliation if they cooperated.
“When talking with employees of Warner Bros, they were very afraid of retaliation if they talked to me,” the investigating officer wrote.
One production assistant told the Daily Mail she has already been passed over for jobs after speaking with police, claiming there was an unspoken message not to “air dirty laundry.”
Prosecutors echoed those concerns in court, accusing the studio of fostering a culture that discouraged witnesses from coming forward and arguing that the delays amounted to institutional protection.
“The delayed and limited cooperation by Warner Bros underscores the barriers that have historically allowed this type of misconduct to continue,” the District Attorney’s office said in a motion seeking to keep Busfield jailed until trial.
Warner Bros pushed back hard, insisting it cooperated fully and prioritized the safety of cast and crew, saying it expedited the release of its third-party report — even though it claims it could have legally withheld it.
But experts say the allegations fit a familiar Hollywood pattern.
“Children are often the most vulnerable people on a film or television set,” said the Hollywood Commission, which advocates for stricter protections for minors in entertainment.
Busfield — once an Emmy winner and a familiar face on Thirtysomething, The West Wing, Field of Dreams and Revenge of the Nerds — appeared somber as he faced a New Mexico judge this week. His wife, former child star Melissa Gilbert, was notably absent.
One of the twins told investigators Busfield touched his “private areas” while the child lay on a bed on set, saying he was too afraid to speak up because Busfield was the show’s director. The boy has since been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, police say. His brother also reported inappropriate touching.
Busfield admitted he may have tickled or played with the boys but denied ever being alone with them — a claim contradicted by crew members who said the on-set teacher frequently lost track of the twins.
“Everyone knew to avoid Timothy because he was creepy,” one hair and makeup artist reportedly told investigators.
Despite Warner Bros’ internal probe finding no conclusive evidence of misconduct, police pressed ahead — bolstered by interviews with therapists, doctors and women who have accused Busfield of inappropriate behavior in the past.
Prosecutors also revealed a newly disclosed allegation this week from a woman who says Busfield sexually abused her when she was 16 — adding to earlier claims dating back decades.
Busfield remains behind bars without bond at a federal detention center outside Albuquerque.
And according to sources close to the case, his arrest might have come far sooner — if not for what they describe as Hollywood’s familiar reflex to protect its own.
