A judge ordered actor and director Timothy Busfield to be released on his own recognizance Tuesday (January 20) ahead of his trial for child sex abuse, the New York Post reports.

Judge David Murphy is allowing Busfield, 68, to leave the state of New Mexico to return to his New York home and be supervised upon release by a pretrial service in Albuquerque, to which his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, mouthed, "thank you, God" in the courtroom. The decision came hours after it was revealed that the underage twin boys accusing the actor of child sex abuse said he didn't touch them when they initially spoke to investigators, according to newly released audio in the ongoing case obtained by the New York Post.

The 11-year-old child actors, identified only by their initials VL and SL, first spoke to police in connection with the serious allegations on November 2024, at which point an officer asked, "You know no on can touch your private areas?"

"Yes," the boys responded.

The officer then asked if Busfield had ever touched their private areas, which both boys appeared to have denied.

"But he didn't touch that part," SL responded.

"No, he's never touched me," VL said in a separate clip.

Busfield's attorney presented the audio in a New Mexico court on Monday (January 19), calling it an "unequivocal denial" by the children that they were touched inappropriately by the actor. Busfield turned himself in to the Albuquerque Police Department last Tuesday (January 13), but denied the "horrible" accusations, claiming he "did not do anything to those little boys" in a video message shared by his lawyer to TMZ prior to his arrest.

“I’m going to confront these lies, they’re horrible,” Busfield said in the video. “They are all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys. And I’m going to fight it. I’m going to fight it with a great team, and I’m going to be exonerated. I know I am because this is all so wrong and all lies.

“So hang in there, and hopefully I’m out real soon and back to work. I love everybody for supporting me.”

Busfield was declared missing, which led to the U.S. Marshals Service joining the search for him after the arrest warrant was issued. The actor claimed he traveled 2,000 miles to Albuquerque upon learning that he faced charges on January 9.

One of the victims claimed the alleged incidents began when he and his brother were 7 years old. An investigation into Busfield began in November 2024, when a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted police about suspected sexual abuse and grooming involving minors, the arrest warrant states.

The Albuquerque Police Department initially declined to press charges against the actor, however, the case was reopened in September 2025 after one of the victims told his counselor and later his pediatrician that Busfield "touched him on his bottom," according to the affidavit. Busfield was also accused of telling the children to call him "Uncle Tim" and tickling them, the arrest warrant states.

The director, who is married to actress Melissa Gilbert, reportedly told investigators that it was "highly likely" that he had "physical contact" with the twin child actors during the filming of The Cleaning Lady during a phone call in November.

“I don’t remember those boys,” Busfield said, according to the affidavit. “No, I don’t. I don’t actually, I don’t remember it, if it happened. I don’t remember overtly tickling the boys ever, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for me.”

Busfield also told police that Elodie Yung, the lead actress on The Cleaning Lady, told him that the twins' mother was seeking "revenge" after the children weren't invited back for the show's final season. An investigation into the allegations is ongoing.

Busfield has a combined 700 credits as an actor producer and director for both film and television, having been best known for roles in Thirtysomething, Field of Dreams, The West Wing and Revenge of the Nerds.

Mark Manuel

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