More of the testimony of one of Timothy Busfield's early victims

Here's some recent news telling more about Eliza Roberts' terrible experience with the now disgraced actor/director Timothy Busfield, who was indicted earlier this year on at least 4 counts of sexual abuse against minors:

Although she described the incident in a sworn deposition three decades ago, she deliberately stayed away from media interviews because she did not want the attention that came with accusing a well-known actor.

That changed after the actor was indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child in New Mexico. The charges stem from allegations involving underage male actors on the set of "The Cleaning Lady."

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Eliza said hearing Busfield dismiss the accusations against him convinced her that remaining silent was no longer the right decision.

"The reason I decided it's time is because he is calling people liars who are telling the truth," she said.

According to the "Twist of Fate" actress, the account she was now sharing publicly was the same one she recently gave detectives investigating the current criminal case. [...]

Eliza Roberts says her encounter with Timothy Busfield began as an ordinary chance meeting. She recalled visiting the Children's Book and Music Center in Santa Monica to buy books for her children when she unexpectedly ran into the 69-year-old.

"I stopped in there to get some books for my kids, and Tim was there, and it was nice to run into each other," she shared.

The two spent time catching up, discussing their careers, children and family life. She described the conversation as pleasant before she says it unexpectedly shifted into deeply uncomfortable territory.

According to the casting director, Busfield allegedly began complimenting her before turning the discussion toward her marriage and sexual topics. Eliza decided to leave, believing the interaction had ended.

Instead, she claims Busfield followed her into the parking lot. She initially assumed he wanted to continue their conversation or say goodbye. What happened next, she says, caught her completely off guard.

"It was almost like a different person, and I was confused because I just didn't understand where that came from," the director recalled. "And he was in a world of his own. He looked like he was in the throes of a very intense moment that he was having that was all kind of at my expense."

Her 1994 deposition alleges Busfield made graphic sexual remarks, including describing intimate acts he wanted to perform and criticizing the sexual aspect of his marriage to his then-wife.

Timothy Busfield Deposition Led To An Emotional Confrontation Years Later

Years after giving her deposition, Eliza Roberts says Busfield contacted her directly. "He said, 'Eliza, how could you do this to me? We're friends,'" she recalled.

Rather than backing away from her testimony, Eliza explained that she challenged him over what she believed had happened.

In her words, "Yes, I thought we were friends, but do you remember what you did to me? It's the same thing you did to her! She's your kid's age! What are you doing? You're calling her a liar. Do you know how awful that is?"

According to the 73-year-old movie star, Busfield never apologized. Instead, he ended the conversation, and they never spoke again.

Her husband, actor Eric Roberts, said he stood behind her decision to testify because the allegations brought by the teenage actor reminded her of her own experience.

"She provided her statement because she saw what happened to her was happening to someone else," he said.

Eric added that his wife was especially upset because, in his view, Busfield had accused the teenager of inventing the allegations.

"She was p-ssed off because [Busfield] had been accusing the girl of fabricating what happened to her," he told the Daily Mail. [...]

Although Eliza tried to move forward after the alleged incident, she says the emotional impact never completely disappeared.

She recalled dining with her mother and sister at one of her favorite Italian restaurants in the early 2000s when Timothy Busfield unexpectedly walked inside with friends.

"He walked in with some friends into the restaurant and I burst into tears," she said. The reaction surprised her because she considered herself resilient, yet seeing Busfield immediately brought back memories she thought she had left behind.

Eliza told her family that she had recently reported him after another young woman alleged similar behavior.

It's absolutely atrocious what Busfield did, and additionally atrocious how his wife Melissa Gilbert is going miles out of her way to defend him and serve as his apologist. Mrs. Roberts is absolutely correct to speak out against Busfield now.

I also noticed somebody in the comments section telling the following:

I had a brief phone encounter with him in the 90s. A few members of our cast shot a local TV segment in front of his children's theatre in Sacramento, which was arranged with his office coordinator. Busfield was nice enough to appear on-camera, which was a bonus for us, as we hadn't received any confirmation he'd actually be there. After the cast left, I received a call at my office. It was Busfield. He screamed at me for at least five minutes, because the crew didn't stay to shoot an entire story on his theatre, something that was never previously discussed or agreed upon. "Do you know who I am?!" and "My publicist makes more money than you do!" -- were repeatedly screamed at me during the call. He was beyond livid. When the crew returned to the office, I told the field producer about my conversation with him. She was completely taken aback, and said he was perfectly nice when they were there. I'm not trying to pile on here, but the sense of an off/on switch with him tracks, even back then.

So in addition to being a wolf in sheep's clothing behind the scenes in TV and film, Busfield's also a creep in the business division. Now, he can yell in his prison cell for all we care. We definitely must hope he'll be convicted when the official trial begins next year.