Accused 'Thirtysomething' Star's Attorney Mounts Public Defense of His Client in Bombshell Chris Hansen Interview
Actor and director Timothy Busfield has a new public defender in the court of opinion, and it is his own lawyer.
Larry Stein, Busfield's civil attorney, sat down with former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen for a nearly hour-long interview on Hansen's podcast Have a Seat with Chris Hansen, released Wednesday, April 15. In it, Stein laid out the defense's version of the criminal case facing the Thirtysomething star, whom a Bernalillo County, N.M., grand jury indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in February. Busfield has pleaded not guilty.
Stein's Version of What the Child Said
The 67-year-old actor was working as director on Warner Bros.' The Cleaning Lady when two child actors on the set alleged he had touched them inappropriately, per the indictment. Per Stein, the surviving allegation is that Busfield touched one boy's private parts, over clothing, for "a second or two" during a filming break while 24 to 30 crew members were in the room.
Stein told Hansen the same child had previously told a detective that Busfield had not touched him. Stein also said the grand jury declined to endorse two grooming counts the prosecution originally sought.
Claims About the Accusers' Parents
Stein alleged on the show that the case was driven by the boys' parents after the children's roles on the series were not renewed. He claimed the father was previously convicted in a mortgage-fraud case and the mother was prosecuted for passing bad checks at Las Vegas casinos.
Parade has not independently verified those allegations, and the parents have not been charged in connection with Busfield's case.
A Polygraph, a Psychosexual Test, and 87 Letters
Per Stein, Busfield took a polygraph examination and a psychosexual evaluation, and the results in both pointed to innocence. Stein also told Hansen that 87 people have submitted letters of support on his client's behalf. None of the tests Stein referenced have been submitted into evidence in the criminal case.
Busfield's wife, Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert, has made several public statements since her husband's indictment, including a Good Morning America appearance. "If I had even the slightest doubt that Tim had committed these egregious acts, he would have a lot more to worry about than prison," Gilbert said, per Stein's recap on Hansen's show.
What's Next
Stein said the defense plans to file motions targeting the grand-jury indictment and is hoping for an early dismissal. If the case does go to trial, Stein said, "there is no way that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." The district attorney's office has not responded publicly to Stein's Hansen interview.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7 by calling RAINN at 1-800-656-4673. If you suspect child abuse, you can reach the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 24/7 by calling 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 4:09 PM.