Law & Order: SVU Star Officially Recast With Franchise Vet After Child Sex Abuse Charges

1 week ago 11

Published Feb 3, 2026, 8:14 PM EST

Matthew Rudoy is one of ScreenRant's Movie & TV News Editors. He covers the latest in movie & TV news, with a focus on major franchises like Star Wars, The Boys, and Game of Thrones. He wrote lists for ScreenRant from 2017-2022, became a news writer in 2023, a senior staff writer in 2024, and an editor in 2025.

This article contains discussion of child abuse.

After Timothy Busfield was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse, Law & Order: SVU has recast his role.

Busfield was originally set to guest star as a respected judge character for the episode "Corrosive," which was supposed to air on January 15. Following an arrest warrant being issued for allegedly abusing two child stars on the set of Fox's The Cleaning Lady, the Law & Order: SVU episode was pulled, and a different episode aired on that date instead. It was unclear at the time whether "Corrosive" would air at a later time or if it had been permanently canceled.

Now, David Zayas will take over the role of the judge character that originally belonged to Busfield. The previously shelved episode has finished filming and will air on February 26. In the episode, the judge's life is threatened, the SVU team investigates, and Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) works to support a survivor of abuse.

Busfield's replacement, Zayas, is known for playing Angel Batista in Dexter, Dexter: New Blood, and Dexter: Resurrection. His list of extensive television credits also includes Oz, Gotham, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, and The Bear. This will not be his first Law & Order: SVU episode, as he starred in season 3, episode 12 as Detective Milton. 23 years later, he returns to SVU, and he's also appeared elsewhere in the franchise, with three episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and five episodes of the main Law & Order series.

David Zayas as Angel Batista speaking at a conference in Dexter New Blood

Since Law & Order: SVU frequently deals with sex crimes, and the plot of "Corrosive" involves abuse, the decision to recast Busfield is one that aligns with the show's values. Since being charged, Busfield was sent to prison, and then released pending trial. If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to at least three years in prison.

Busfield previously starred in and directed episodes of the Law & Order franchise, both in the flagship series and in Law & Order: SVU. He was an executive producer and director on The Cleaning Lady, the series where the alleged incident that he is being charged with occurred. His most famous roles include Mark, the brother-in-law of Kevin Costner's character in Field of Dreams, Danny Concannon in The West Wing, and Elliot Weston in Thirtysomething.

Release Date September 20, 1999

Showrunner Michael S. Chernuchin, David Graziano

Directors Jean de Segonzac, David Platt, Peter Leto, Alex Chapple, Juan José Campanella, Norberto Barba, Constantine Makris, Martha Mitchell, Arthur W. Forney, Michael Slovis, Steve Shill, Alex Zakrzewski, Michael Pressman, Helen Shaver, Mariska Hargitay, Michael Smith, Ted Kotcheff, Fred Berner, Jonathan Kaplan, Holly Dale, Jonathan Herron, Jud Taylor, Adam Bernstein, Jim McKay

Writers Judith McCreary, David Graziano, Michael S. Chernuchin, Daniel Truly, Jonathan Greene, Amanda Green, Lisa Marie Petersen, Allison Intrieri, Lawrence Kaplow, Jose Molina, Matt Klypka, Michael R. Perry, Samantha Corbin-Miller, Barbie Kligman, Robert F. Campbell, Candice Sanchez McFarlane, Gwendolyn M. Parker, René Balcer, Robert Nathan, Wendy West, Speed Weed, Ryan Causey, Chris Brancato, Christos N. Gage