‘Law & Order: SVU’ Episode Guest Starring Timothy Busfield Pulled Following Child Sex Abuse Charges

NBC has pulled the episode of Law & Order: SVU, scheduled to air this Thursday, Jan. 15, with Timothy Busfield as guest star. It will be replaced by the episode of the venerable crime drama that had been slated for the following Thursday, Jan. 22.

The decision comes days after an arrest warrant was issued Friday for the actor-director-producer who was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse. They stem from allegations of inappropriate behavior toward child stars on the New Mexico set of the Fox/Warner Bros. TV drama series The Cleaning Lady, on which the Thirtysomething alum served as director and executive producer.

Sex crimes are at the heart of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Busfiled plays a judge in the pulled episode, titled Corrosive, which deals with abuse. It focuses on a troubling case involving a respected judge’s life being threatened. The SVU team is called to investigate, leading them down a complex path that connects to an anonymous video posted to their tip line. As the plot unfolds, the episode tackles heavy themes of trauma and recovery, showcasing Rollins’ efforts to support a victim facing their past abuse.