David Zayas (Dexter) has been tapped to replace Timothy Busfield in a pulled episode of Law & Order: SVU.
NBC shelved the episode, titled “Corrosive” and scheduled to air January 15, which was to feature Busfield in a guest-starring role as a judge. The decision came days after an arrest warrant was issued for the actor-director-producer, who was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse.
NBC confirmed Tuesday that Zayas was recast as the judge, the episode was shot and will air on February 26.
Sex crimes are at the heart of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The “Corrosive” episode deals with abuse, focusing 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 the efforts of Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) to support a victim facing their past abuse.
Busfield’s charges stem from allegations of inappropriate behavior toward two 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.
If found guilty, Busfield could face a minimum of three years behind bars.
The matter first came to authorities’ attention in late 2024 when a doctor from University of New Mexico Hospital contacted the Albuquerque Police Department in regards to a “sexual abuse investigation” involving the child actors, who are brothers, both born in 2014.
Warner Bros TV had conducted its own probe into allegations against Busfield after SAG-AFTRA received an anonymous complaint in early 2025 of an incident on The Cleaning Lady set from December 2024. As Deadline reported, it resulted in Busfield being “exonerated.” The studio is cooperating with law enforcement.
Zayas portrayed Angel Batista in Dexter and reprised the role in the sequel series Dexter: New Blood and Dexter: Resurrection. He recently appeared in The Running Man, and recurred on The Bear and Blue Bloods, among others.
