A judge in New Mexico has dismissed an indictment against actor Timothy Busfield, known for 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 compromised the grand jury process as reasons for the dismissal.
State District Judge Joseph Montano granted a defense motion to drop the charges in a decision made public on Friday. Busfield has consistently refuted the accusations, labeling them as falsehoods driven by a desire for retaliation.
There has been no immediate announcement from prosecutors regarding whether they intend to pursue a new indictment. The case revolves around incidents during Busfield’s direction of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” from 2022 to 2024. Parents of twin boys who were part of the show alleged that Busfield inappropriately touched the children on the set in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
According to a criminal complaint filed in January, an investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department stated that one of the boys reported Busfield touched him inappropriately over his clothing in his private areas when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s twin also mentioned being touched by Busfield but did not provide specific details and remained silent out of fear of repercussions.
Busfield surrendered himself and was released on bail pending trial after a judge concluded there was no history of criminal behavior or similar accusations involving children in his past. Shortly after, a grand jury issued an indictment reiterating the claims that Busfield had inappropriate contact with one of the boys repeatedly.
Busfield’s legal team highlighted that the initial police interviews with the children did not support the allegations and accused the parents of coercing the children into making incriminating statements after losing roles on the show.
In June, Busfield’s attorneys formally requested the indictment be dismissed, asserting that prosecutors disregarded the lack of evidence and impeded grand jurors from hearing crucial witness testimonies. During a September hearing, Busfield’s lawyer presented audio recordings showing grand jurors had requested additional witnesses but were misled about the process.
District Attorney Greer Staley countered, stating that the defense did not follow the correct procedures for presenting evidence to the grand jury. Furthermore, it was alleged that Busfield had attempted to influence the jury towards favorable witnesses during his testimony.
Transcripts submitted by Busfield’s legal team revealed the actor’s anguish over the impact of the case on his life and family. He denied the allegations vehemently, stating they were completely false. Prosecutors had warned that each count in the indictment could lead to a potential six-year prison sentence, with room for enhancement.