Timothy Busfield's Defense Blames 'Stage Parents' with Fraud Charges in Child Sex Abuse Case

Timothy Busfield's defense team argued that the parents involved in his child sex abuse case have a "well-documented history of fraud and dishonesty" this week.

Busfield, 68, surrendered himself to authorities on January 13 and was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. He is currently being held without bail.

His legal team, who have argued for his release from pretrial detention, insisted this week the state's case against him is built "almost entirely on the accounts of two stage parents" and that Ronald Rodis and Angele LaSalle, the parents of the twin boys at the center of the case, are "not neutral observers."

Timothy Busfield's accusers have a troubled past of their own

Busfield's lawyers also argued: "Their allegations emerged only after the loss of the twins’ role — and only after consultation with civil counsel — creating an obvious financial and retaliatory motive. That motive must be evaluated against the couple’s well-documented history of fraud and dishonesty."

The team further described Rodis as "is a former attorney who was convicted of federal conspiracy and wire fraud and was later disbarred following that prosecution for a multimillion-dollar scheme in which he used his law license to deceive vulnerable victims for profit."

Per the U.S. Department of Justice, in June 2016 Rodis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. “At the height of the mortgage crisis, this defendant and his co-conspirators preyed on desperate homeowners with a series of lies and false promises,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division at the time.  “We will continue to prosecute individuals who target vulnerable victims for profit.”

“This defendant posed as an accomplished attorney who could provide quality legal services – and hope – to struggling homeowners,” said U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker of the Central District of California. “But the promises were bogus. Rodis Law Group made few efforts to assist homeowners, who paid thousands of dollars in last-ditch attempts to keep their homes, many of which entered foreclosure.”

Rodis also admitted that between October 2008 and June 2009 he was part of a scheme with a group that worked to convince homeowners to pay between $3,500 and $5,500 for his legal services. The group also misrepresented Rodis' ability to help them navigate modifications to their mortgages, and Rodis specifically recorded several radio ads to promote his so-called mortgage assistance program at the Rodis Law Group (RLG).

The DOJ also noted Rodis represented RLG as a "team of experienced attorneys" but in reality, "Rodis was the only attorney at RLG."

Rodis was ultimately sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution.

Busfield's legal team say the boys are victims of their parents

Additionally, Busfield's lawyer Amber Fayerberg argued the two boys were "victimized by their own parents."

"There are victims, and they were still these two boys. But they weren't victimized by Tim Busfield," Fayerberg told Judge David Murphy. "They were victimized by their own parents, who no longer could make money as a lawyer disbarred, no longer could write bad checks, taking 85% of the money they made on a TV show, and then manufacture into victims as revenge."

Busfield is accused of touching the boys inappropriately on the set of The Cleaning Lady. One of the boys said an incident took place while he and Busfield were alone in a bedroom on set. Court documents also note the parents were allegedly told by hospital staff the boys showed signs of having been "groomed."

Related: Melissa Gilbert Makes Decision as Husband Timothy Busfield Surrenders