Timothy Busfield replaced in 'Law & Order' amid abuse charges
What's the story
David Zayas has been confirmed to replace Timothy Busfield in an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The decision comes after Busfield was charged with child sex abuse last month. The episode, titled Corrosive, will now air on February 26 with Zayas playing a judge, a role originally intended for Busfield. People confirmed the news, and Give Me My Remote first reported the casting and scheduling change.
Episode details
Plot of the episode 'Corrosive'
The episode Corrosive was initially scheduled to air on January 15 but was pulled from NBC's schedule due to Busfield's legal troubles. The story centers on a plot to assassinate a well-regarded judge, connected to an anonymous video submitted to the SVU tip line. Meanwhile, Rollins, played by Kelli Giddish, works to support a victim as they confront and process their abuse.
Legal issues
Busfield's charges and legal troubles
Busfield turned himself into authorities on January 13 after an arrest warrant was issued by the Albuquerque Police Department. He is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact involving a minor, along with one count of child abuse. The charges stem from allegations that he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two 11-year-old boys, with incidents allegedly beginning when the boys were 7 years old, on the set of FOX series The Cleaning Lady.
Defense statement
His wife has stood by him amid these allegations
Busfield has denied the allegations, claiming they are lies. He expressed confidence that he would be exonerated, stating, "I'm gonna fight it with a great team." However, he was released from custody in New Mexico on January 20 as he awaits trial on the charges. His wife of 13 years, Melissa Gilbert, has stood by him amid these allegations.
Actor's history
Zayas has previously appeared on 'Law & Order: SVU'
Zayas, who will now be stepping into Busfield's role, has a history with Law & Order: SVU. He appeared in one episode back in 2002. Meanwhile, Busfield had guest-starred on the hit series in 2011 and directed two episodes in 2019. The episode featuring Zayas was reshot after Busfield's scenes were removed, following the decision to pull the original episode from the schedule.