Actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” has been charged by a grand jury with four counts of criminal sexual contact involving a child under the age of 13, as per an announcement by a New Mexico prosecutor on Friday. The allegations stem from Busfield’s directorial work on the television series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024.
Busfield has refuted the accusations, which were initially brought to court by law enforcement. His defense attorney stated that he will vigorously contest the charges at all stages. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman disclosed the indictment through a social media post.
Despite turning himself in to authorities in January on related charges, Busfield was released from custody by a judge who found no past instances of criminal behavior or similar allegations involving children in Busfield’s history. The grand jury indictment paves the way for the case against Busfield to progress towards a potential trial without the need for a preliminary evidentiary hearing.
Larry Stein, representing Busfield, refrained from discussing the specific sexual contact charge in the indictment but mentioned that grooming charges sought by prosecutors were not endorsed by the grand jury. Stein highlighted weaknesses in the state’s evidence revealed during a detention hearing and reiterated Busfield’s determination to challenge the charges in a public trial.
An investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department revealed that a boy reported incidents where Busfield allegedly touched his private areas over his clothing at the ages of seven and eight. The boy’s twin also reported a similar experience but delayed sharing it due to fear of repercussions. The indictment, filed in state District Court, reiterates the allegations of inappropriate touching by Busfield.
During a detention hearing, Busfield’s legal team pointed out inconsistencies in the children’s initial statements to the police, suggesting potential coaching by their parents after losing roles on the show. Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch emphasized the strength of the evidence against Busfield, supported by medical findings and the boys’ therapist, who expressed concerns about potential retaliation and professional consequences.
Prosecutors outlined a pattern of grooming behavior and abuse of power by Busfield spanning three decades. Each count in the indictment against Busfield carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison, with the possibility of enhancement for sexual offenses. Despite the serious nature of the allegations involving children, the court released Busfield on Jan. 20, with Judge David Murphy noting that prosecutors failed to demonstrate a threat to public safety upon his release.
Timothy Busfield, married to actor Melissa Gilbert, gained fame for his roles in “West Wing,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which earned him an Emmy award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.
