A judge in New Mexico has thrown out charges against actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” related to alleged criminal sexual contact with a child. The judge cited errors and misconduct by prosecutors that compromised the grand jury process. State District Judge Joseph Montano granted a defense request to dismiss the charges, emphasizing prosecutorial mistakes.
Busfield has consistently denied the accusations, labeling them as falsehoods driven by a desire for retaliation. It remains unclear if prosecutors will pursue a new indictment in the case.
The incident stems from Busfield’s time directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. The parents of twin boys who were part of the show alleged that Busfield behaved inappropriately towards their children while on set in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
According to a criminal complaint filed in January, one of the boys reported that Busfield touched him inappropriately on two separate occasions when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s twin brother also mentioned that Busfield had touched him but did not provide further details out of fear of consequences.
After voluntarily surrendering himself and being released pending trial, a judge found no history of similar allegations against children in Busfield’s past. However, a grand jury later indicted Busfield on charges related to the alleged incidents involving the boys on the show.
The defense team argued that prosecutors disregarded the lack of evidence and obstructed the grand jury process. Busfield’s attorney presented audio recordings from a hearing where jurors requested additional witnesses, claiming that prosecutors misled them about the process. In response, the district attorney argued that the defense failed to submit evidence correctly and accused Busfield of trying to influence the grand jurors in his favor during his testimony.
In his testimony, Busfield expressed how the accusations had profoundly impacted his life and family, leading to job loss and agency termination. He vehemently denied the allegations, stating they were entirely false. The indictment carried potential penalties of up to six years in prison per count.