Melissa Gilbert’s husband, Timothy Busfield, facing warrant for child sex abuse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026.1.16-Busfield-Response-pages-deleted-and-watermarked.pdf

tl/dr: Team Pitchfork probably on suicide watch

How is the case going forward based on what is presented in this document? Not only the father was disbarred for scamming people, the mother did too including writing bad checks to casinos.

Multiple people stated that there was no way he was ever alone with any kids as there were way too many people constantly on the set, teachers following the kids, the alleged location of the abuse was never vacant with no one around, etc.

Both the first police investigation and the independent attorney paid by WB foubd no abuse and the boys stayed no abuse happened.

The prosecutor is quoted as saying in court yesterday, essentially, “well, abuse can occur in plain sight, too” …

Seriously. That was her response when the defense presented an array of witness statements that supported the defense position that Busfield was never even alone with the complainants, which appears to undermine the prosecution’s core theory of the case.

Nevertheless, the defense response to the state’s effort to deny his release was a massive broadside in what is starting to look like a very questionable case.

Look, abuse is a horrific trauma when it has actually occurred. I’m not saying I’m certain it didn’t occur here.

But what I am saying is that this appears to be a garden variety shakedown by a very shady family, the criminal case appears severely damaged before it even has a chance to get its sea legs, and all of the posters (maybe it was just one poster?) in this thread who were ready to execute this guy before he even had a chance to deny the claims made against him? They should be ashamed of themselves for convicting this guy in the court of public opinion, for attacking other posters for supporting due process, and for lashing out at those posters personally. There’s enough egg on their face(s) right now to last a lifetime. Just stop.

What are you on? No one is talking about execution here. And we are allowed to have opinions on the case and we can convict him in the court of public opinion if we damn well want to. Nothing of what you wrote will convince me this guy is innocent.

Good grief, show us on the doll where Uncle Tim touched you.

On a slightly more serious note, you were invited to stop - so I’m not going to feel bad at all watching this unfold and mocking you for your crazed rush to judgement the entire way.

NP. You are vile. Joking about child sexual abuse in any way, shape or form is quite literally never ok.

Neither are false claims propagated by parents with a well-documented ax to grind and a lengthy track record of committing serious fraud crimes, vindictive prosecution, and the lack of decorum by the lynch mob in this thread.

I’d love to hear your take on the recent allegations by the father of the 16 year old. Does he have an axe to grind as well?

According to Matthew Moore, an adult actor on the set, the father had written a script for a show and was hoping TB would present it to higher ups. The father sounds cringy from how Moore describes him:

Separate from the case involving the twin boys, Busfield has also been accused of sexually assaulting a third alleged victim, a 16-year-old girl.

According to filings, the incident allegedly occurred during an audition at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, which Busfield founded.

The motion states per the Daily Mail, "While auditioning for the defendant at B Street Theatre, the 16-year-old reported that (he) kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates."

Additional claims within the filing allege Busfield "begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy," with the girl’s father, described as "a therapist himself," believing at the time that therapy was the appropriate response.

However, Busfield’s attorneys presented statements from another actor at the theatre, Matthew Moore, which they argue undermine the credibility of the accusation.

According to court documents, Moore recalled a conversation with the alleged victim’s father that painted a troubling picture of competing motives.

The father allegedly told Moore, "They are going to love it because Tim Busfield is going to present it to them, which I'm certain he will do because he will need to if he thinks he's going to f* my daughter."

When Moore questioned why the father believed Busfield was interested in his daughter, the response was reportedly blunt: "Because she's a total babe."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/new-audio-emerges-in-timothy-busfield-case-raising-serious-questions/ar-AA1UBFuE?uxmode=ruby&ocid=winp2fp&cvid=3881bfb2836e4692b6f42a41b9af090b&ei=12

[Anonymous]

Correction: Matthew Moore was a teen at the time of the alleged incident, acting with the 16yo daughter. He is now an adult.

Some more details from Moore about the father:


A new witness has come forward regarding a teen’s allegations against Timothy Busfield.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, January 19, a witness by the name of Matthew Moore shared testimony in an affidavit regarding allegations against Busfield, now 68, involving a teenage girl more than two decades ago.

Moore claimed that he knew the alleged victim when they were teens and both aspired to be actors. The duo were both apprentices at the B Street Theatre in 2000, where Busfield worked as director.

One night, Moore was with the alleged victim and her father, Colin Swift, who made "uncomfortable" comments to Moore about the daughter’s relationship with Busfield. Moore alleged that Swift had written a pilot for a potential show and was sure that it was going to be picked up because of Busfield.

“I don’t need an agent because you guys are going to be stars,” Moore recalled Swift allegedly saying, per the docs. “They are going to love it because Tim Busfield is going to present it to them, which I’m certain he will do because he will need to if he thinks he’s going to f*** my daughter.”

Moore allegedly asked Swift what made him think that Busfield was interested in his daughter. According to Moore, Swift claimed that his daughter was “a total babe.”
“She will talk to him. I know. That’s exactly what’s going to happen. I know because she is my daughter, which means she is smart,” Moore claimed Swift said.

In addition to Moore’s alleged conversation with Swift, Moore claims he witnessed Busfield receiving a shoulder massage from the girl while directing him during a class. Moore shared that he “did not see” Busfield “initiate physical contact” with the girl, adding that nothing appeared “to be predatory or abusive.”

After Busfield was accused of inappropriately touching twin child actors on the set of The Cleaning Lady, Swift came forward to the authorities about alleged past abuse involving his daughter. Swift claimed in a pretrial motion that Busfield “kissed” his daughter and “put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/witness-makes-claims-timothy-busfield-213625227.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correction: Matthew Moore was a teen at the time of the alleged incident, acting with the 16yo daughter. He is now an adult.

Some more details from Moore about the father:


A new witness has come forward regarding a teen’s allegations against Timothy Busfield.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, January 19, a witness by the name of Matthew Moore shared testimony in an affidavit regarding allegations against Busfield, now 68, involving a teenage girl more than two decades ago.

Moore claimed that he knew the alleged victim when they were teens and both aspired to be actors. The duo were both apprentices at the B Street Theatre in 2000, where Busfield worked as director.

One night, Moore was with the alleged victim and her father, Colin Swift, who made "uncomfortable" comments to Moore about the daughter’s relationship with Busfield. Moore alleged that Swift had written a pilot for a potential show and was sure that it was going to be picked up because of Busfield.

“I don’t need an agent because you guys are going to be stars,” Moore recalled Swift allegedly saying, per the docs. “They are going to love it because Tim Busfield is going to present it to them, which I’m certain he will do because he will need to if he thinks he’s going to f*** my daughter.”

Moore allegedly asked Swift what made him think that Busfield was interested in his daughter. According to Moore, Swift claimed that his daughter was “a total babe.”
“She will talk to him. I know. That’s exactly what’s going to happen. I know because she is my daughter, which means she is smart,” Moore claimed Swift said.

In addition to Moore’s alleged conversation with Swift, Moore claims he witnessed Busfield receiving a shoulder massage from the girl while directing him during a class. Moore shared that he “did not see” Busfield “initiate physical contact” with the girl, adding that nothing appeared “to be predatory or abusive.”

After Busfield was accused of inappropriately touching twin child actors on the set of The Cleaning Lady, Swift came forward to the authorities about alleged past abuse involving his daughter. Swift claimed in a pretrial motion that Busfield “kissed” his daughter and “put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/witness-makes-claims-timothy-busfield-213625227.html

Gross. Why would Busfield allow that? He was their teacher! This just gets worse and worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correction: Matthew Moore was a teen at the time of the alleged incident, acting with the 16yo daughter. He is now an adult.

Some more details from Moore about the father:


A new witness has come forward regarding a teen’s allegations against Timothy Busfield.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, January 19, a witness by the name of Matthew Moore shared testimony in an affidavit regarding allegations against Busfield, now 68, involving a teenage girl more than two decades ago.

Moore claimed that he knew the alleged victim when they were teens and both aspired to be actors. The duo were both apprentices at the B Street Theatre in 2000, where Busfield worked as director.

One night, Moore was with the alleged victim and her father, Colin Swift, who made "uncomfortable" comments to Moore about the daughter’s relationship with Busfield. Moore alleged that Swift had written a pilot for a potential show and was sure that it was going to be picked up because of Busfield.

“I don’t need an agent because you guys are going to be stars,” Moore recalled Swift allegedly saying, per the docs. “They are going to love it because Tim Busfield is going to present it to them, which I’m certain he will do because he will need to if he thinks he’s going to f*** my daughter.”

Moore allegedly asked Swift what made him think that Busfield was interested in his daughter. According to Moore, Swift claimed that his daughter was “a total babe.”
“She will talk to him. I know. That’s exactly what’s going to happen. I know because she is my daughter, which means she is smart,” Moore claimed Swift said.

In addition to Moore’s alleged conversation with Swift, Moore claims he witnessed Busfield receiving a shoulder massage from the girl while directing him during a class. Moore shared that he “did not see” Busfield “initiate physical contact” with the girl, adding that nothing appeared “to be predatory or abusive.”

After Busfield was accused of inappropriately touching twin child actors on the set of The Cleaning Lady, Swift came forward to the authorities about alleged past abuse involving his daughter. Swift claimed in a pretrial motion that Busfield “kissed” his daughter and “put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/witness-makes-claims-timothy-busfield-213625227.html

Witness to what? These accusations get weaker and more ridiculous every time. Where's the smoking gun? It's all a bunch of bitter stage parents who are the real abusers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correction: Matthew Moore was a teen at the time of the alleged incident, acting with the 16yo daughter. He is now an adult.

Some more details from Moore about the father:


A new witness has come forward regarding a teen’s allegations against Timothy Busfield.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, January 19, a witness by the name of Matthew Moore shared testimony in an affidavit regarding allegations against Busfield, now 68, involving a teenage girl more than two decades ago.

Moore claimed that he knew the alleged victim when they were teens and both aspired to be actors. The duo were both apprentices at the B Street Theatre in 2000, where Busfield worked as director.

One night, Moore was with the alleged victim and her father, Colin Swift, who made "uncomfortable" comments to Moore about the daughter’s relationship with Busfield. Moore alleged that Swift had written a pilot for a potential show and was sure that it was going to be picked up because of Busfield.

“I don’t need an agent because you guys are going to be stars,” Moore recalled Swift allegedly saying, per the docs. “They are going to love it because Tim Busfield is going to present it to them, which I’m certain he will do because he will need to if he thinks he’s going to f*** my daughter.”

Moore allegedly asked Swift what made him think that Busfield was interested in his daughter. According to Moore, Swift claimed that his daughter was “a total babe.”
“She will talk to him. I know. That’s exactly what’s going to happen. I know because she is my daughter, which means she is smart,” Moore claimed Swift said.

In addition to Moore’s alleged conversation with Swift, Moore claims he witnessed Busfield receiving a shoulder massage from the girl while directing him during a class. Moore shared that he “did not see” Busfield “initiate physical contact” with the girl, adding that nothing appeared “to be predatory or abusive.”

After Busfield was accused of inappropriately touching twin child actors on the set of The Cleaning Lady, Swift came forward to the authorities about alleged past abuse involving his daughter. Swift claimed in a pretrial motion that Busfield “kissed” his daughter and “put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/witness-makes-claims-timothy-busfield-213625227.html

Witness to what? These accusations get weaker and more ridiculous every time. Where's the smoking gun? It's all a bunch of bitter stage parents who are the real abusers.

Awww, poor Tim.

[Anonymous]

The judge:

"Given the lack of a pattern involving children in this case, I think that can be remedied through different conditions of release," the judge said in part while delivering his decision. "I don't find that there's been sufficient presentation that this defendant may commit new crimes if released pending trial. There's no evidence of a pattern of criminal conduct. There are no similar allegations involving children in his past. There's no evidence of non-compliance with prior court orders."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The judge:

"Given the lack of a pattern involving children in this case, I think that can be remedied through different conditions of release," the judge said in part while delivering his decision. "I don't find that there's been sufficient presentation that this defendant may commit new crimes if released pending trial. There's no evidence of a pattern of criminal conduct. There are no similar allegations involving children in his past. There's no evidence of non-compliance with prior court orders."

Hallelujah!!! He’s exonerated!!!!!

[Anonymous]

According to the pitchfork gang, you’re either (A) co-signing their proposed court (of public opinion) order to run this guy out of society and his career, to sentence him immediately, and to make him a pariah without any further consideration; (B) a vile, ugly old man, divorced, and guilty of the same crimes alleged to have been committed by Busfield, or (C) someone in Busfield’s inner circle.

There is no room in their framework for anyone else (including those who value due process above all else in such matters).

Don’t even bother. Ad hominem attacks are all that awaits you. 25 pages of evidence right here for any doubters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to the pitchfork gang, you’re either (A) co-signing their proposed court (of public opinion) order to run this guy out of society and his career, to sentence him immediately, and to make him a pariah without any further consideration; (B) a vile, ugly old man, divorced, and guilty of the same crimes alleged to have been committed by Busfield, or (C) someone in Busfield’s inner circle.

There is no room in their framework for anyone else (including those who value due process above all else in such matters).

Don’t even bother. Ad hominem attacks are all that awaits you. 25 pages of evidence right here for any doubters.

Have you considered joining Busfield’s defense team? Seriously! You have such insight into it all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the pitchfork gang, you’re either (A) co-signing their proposed court (of public opinion) order to run this guy out of society and his career, to sentence him immediately, and to make him a pariah without any further consideration; (B) a vile, ugly old man, divorced, and guilty of the same crimes alleged to have been committed by Busfield, or (C) someone in Busfield’s inner circle.

There is no room in their framework for anyone else (including those who value due process above all else in such matters).

Don’t even bother. Ad hominem attacks are all that awaits you. 25 pages of evidence right here for any doubters.

Have you considered joining Busfield’s defense team? Seriously! You have such insight into it all!

I think this poster is describing himself within (B).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the pitchfork gang, you’re either (A) co-signing their proposed court (of public opinion) order to run this guy out of society and his career, to sentence him immediately, and to make him a pariah without any further consideration; (B) a vile, ugly old man, divorced, and guilty of the same crimes alleged to have been committed by Busfield, or (C) someone in Busfield’s inner circle.

There is no room in their framework for anyone else (including those who value due process above all else in such matters).

Don’t even bother. Ad hominem attacks are all that awaits you. 25 pages of evidence right here for any doubters.

Have you considered joining Busfield’s defense team? Seriously! You have such insight into it all!

Insight into your behavioral profile isn’t the same as insight into the details of this case, of which I have none other than what’s been reported in the press.

However, have you considered consulting with creepy stage parents who have checkered pasts? Bonus points if both parents have a track record of persistently engaging in serious criminal frauds. Double bonus points if one or more of the parents has disclosed to others their plan to “get revenge” and score a payday along the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the pitchfork gang, you’re either (A) co-signing their proposed court (of public opinion) order to run this guy out of society and his career, to sentence him immediately, and to make him a pariah without any further consideration; (B) a vile, ugly old man, divorced, and guilty of the same crimes alleged to have been committed by Busfield, or (C) someone in Busfield’s inner circle.

There is no room in their framework for anyone else (including those who value due process above all else in such matters).

Don’t even bother. Ad hominem attacks are all that awaits you. 25 pages of evidence right here for any doubters.

Have you considered joining Busfield’s defense team? Seriously! You have such insight into it all!

Insight into your behavioral profile isn’t the same as insight into the details of this case, of which I have none other than what’s been reported in the press.

However, have you considered consulting with creepy stage parents who have checkered pasts? Bonus points if both parents have a track record of persistently engaging in serious criminal frauds. Double bonus points if one or more of the parents has disclosed to others their plan to “get revenge” and score a payday along the way.

You need to get real with yourself. You are the culprit in your failures, including a probable gnarly divorce.

[Anonymous]

I believed Kavanaugh's accuser.
I believed Trump's accusers.
I believed Weinstein's accusers.
I believed 95% of what Spacey's accusers said.

So far, I do *not* believe the parents of the twin boys and the father of the 16yo girl (who is now mid 30s).

The DA is off to a weak start. Initially they alleged TB was alone with the boys, then when some set crew disputed this at the hearing this week and said Tim was never alone, and there were always a dozen crew members around him and the kids, the DA switched and said, well abuse can happen in front of others.

Yes, that's true (Nassar), but that's not what you stated in the charging/detention affidavit - you said he was alone with the boy(s).

And when the DA described the recorded interview with the twins a year ago, they said the twins "did not disclose abuse". NO - they specifically stated TB did *not* abuse them. That isn't "not disclosing", that is denying.

This is shady use of words for a court presentation from the prosecution who supposedly has a duty to go beyond charging and also seek the truth.

And coaching or planting false memories in 2 young children will cause them to disclose things to their Dr or therapist, so even those mandated reports could be grifted by the parents.

Not to mention the dad of the twins is a disbarred attorney who was convicted of federal conspiracy and wire fraud, to which he pled guilty. And a fraud lawsuit against the mother for writing bad checks to casinos.

And one more thing, the State Attorney Sam Bregman is currently running for governor. IYKYK what I mean.

And that's why these 3 charges are not passing the "smell test" for me.

If Tim allowed a 16yo girl to massage his shoulders 20 years ago while he was instructing teen Matthew Moore in acting, that is foolish and gross to me as a woman. But it's also not necessarily indicative of grooming or abuse. It wouldn't surprise me if her dad encouraged her to do that, in order to get his script for a pilot TV show heard. Dad sounds slimy.

And I wonder how the 16yo (now 30s) feels about being outed and probably being put on the witness list, should this go to trial? And how is it to hear your Dad was discussing 40+yo TB f***ing his daughter.

And I don't work for Tim, been posting here for years. I have the son who had a BP/Sz dx 8 years ago and I had the 2 dusty Christmas trees (now put away) LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biggest shock of all in this case is that these children were being paid $60K per episode prior to their dismissal from the production.

I had never even heard of this showprior to this week. But if those children appeared as regulars in the first three seasons and averaged, I’m assuming, at least $25K per episode over those initial 34 episodes, that’s $850K in earnings that these fraudster parents saw slip away overnight.

And then they allegedly threatened to exact revenge. And then their children affirmatively denied that this guy had touched them inappropriately. Before changing their story and claiming that he did.

A guy was arrested and jailed for this?

No one is listening to your rants.

DP. I am and I agree with the PP. This does not sound like the straightforward case of SA that you seem to desperately want it to be. Perhaps we'll find that yes, he is guilty - in which case of course he should be locked up. But in light of all of the things now coming out, that you're very eager to ignore or downplay, there seems to be a lot more to this. Why do you continue to insult anyone who feels this way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that WB’s internal investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing (which apparently involved a corroboration of Busfield’s “side of the story” by several credible on-set witnesses), the parents of the the alleged victims apparently both have a history of committing fraud, and Busfield has apparently “passed” a polygraph related to these allegations. Of note, the jurisdiction in question is one of the few states that considers polygraph evidence in criminal matters.

Nevertheless, I guess there’s still a lot more to sort out before this case is ready for prime time. I’m paying close attention to the allegation that the mother threatened to exact revenge on Busfield after the alleged victims were fired by the production. If that allegation is corroborated by even one credible witness, this case is probably DOA.

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/wireStory/actor-timothy-busfields-attorneys-investigation-undermines-states-child-129303373

lol. Their own “internal investigation.” Really?!

Former prosecutor with special training in and experience of child sex crimes investigation and prosecution.

Yes, skepticism is very much warranted here.

Can anybody in the class think of any reason why Warner Bros. might be motivated to find no evidence of culpability of the director they employed, on a TV set over which they had employer liability?

Hmmm . . .

I have some concerns about this case, but I would not put much weight into the WB investigation findings. Let LEOs with no financial interest in the outcome re-interview all the same witnesses.

It wasn’t a “WB investigation”, though.

I’ll take a blue chip law firm’s independent investigation (especially when the results of that investigation can be used to distance the studio from a toxic producer) over a true believer affidavit signed by a detective with six months of post-HS education (or however long academies take to complete these days).

Sorry, but this case reeks of a textbook shakedown by disbarred, crooked parents with a track record of committing acts of fraud. Not a faint whiff … reeks of it. Of course, we will all have to wait and see, but I cannot imagine these parents and their sons won’t be impeached sky high before this is all said and done.

And you know this how?!

I’m also curious about the reference to the claimant parents as “disbarred” and their alleged record of “fraud.” Unless of course that’s entirely made up by a “reek”ing, frenzied PP.

Unfortunate that these supposed little kid liars and their “disbarred” parents found a target in a man with several claims of inappropriate, unwelcome sexual behaviors over the past 30 years.

Did the DA realize this before filing?

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-attorney-pleads-guilty-participating-fraudulent-mortgage-modification-scheme

SANTA ANA, California – A former licensed attorney from Irvine pleaded guilty this afternoon to federal charges for his role in a multi-million dollar fraudulent mortgage modification scheme.

Ronald Rodis, 51, of Irvine, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge David O. Carter to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud…

In a plea agreement filed in federal court, Rodis admitted that the RLG scheme fraudulently obtained approximately $6 million from more than 1,500 victims…

“It is an unfortunate truth that people often take advantage of a crisis for personal gain,” said Assistant Director in Charge Deirdre Fike of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The Rodis Law Group was among the worst type of scammers, trying to take advantage of homeowners already experiencing profound heartache in the face of potential foreclosure.

WHOA... 1,500 victims. Make that 1,503 to include Busfield and their own kids if it turns out they coached them.