A New Mexico judge has thrown out an indictment against actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” which accused him of criminal sexual contact with a child. The judge cited prosecutorial misconduct and errors that undermined the grand jury process. State District Judge Joseph Montano granted a defense motion to dismiss the charges, as revealed in a decision released on Friday.
Busfield has consistently denied the allegations, labeling them as falsehoods driven by a desire for retaliation. It remains to be seen if prosecutors will pursue a new indictment following this development.
The case originated from Busfield directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Allegations arose from the parents of twin boys who were part of the show, claiming that Busfield inappropriately touched the children on the set in Albuquerque, N.M.
According to a criminal complaint filed in January, an investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department reported that one of the boys stated Busfield touched him inappropriately over his clothing on two occasions when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s twin brother also mentioned being touched by Busfield but did not provide specifics due to fear of repercussions.
After voluntarily surrendering himself, Busfield was released from jail pending trial, with the judge noting no previous criminal behavior or similar accusations involving children in Busfield’s history. However, a grand jury indictment quickly followed, reiterating claims that Busfield had engaged in inappropriate acts with the boys, allowing the case to bypass a preliminary hearing.
Busfield’s legal team pointed out inconsistencies in the children’s initial police interviews, where they denied any inappropriate behavior by Busfield. They accused the boys’ parents of influencing their statements after the boys lost their roles on the show.
Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors disregarded the lack of evidence and obstructed grand jurors from hearing crucial testimonies during the proceedings. Prosecutors, on the other hand, contended that the defense failed to follow proper evidence submission protocols and that Busfield improperly influenced the grand jury in his favor during his testimony.
In transcripts submitted by Busfield’s attorneys, the actor expressed how the case had negatively impacted his life and family, leading to job loss and agency termination. Busfield vehemently denied the allegations leveled against him and insisted on his innocence.
The indictment specified potential prison sentences of up to six years for each count, with the possibility of enhancements.
