A judge in New Mexico has thrown out an accusation of criminal sexual contact with a child against actor Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams.” The dismissal was based on errors and misconduct by the prosecution that compromised the grand jury process. State District Judge Joseph Montano granted a defense request to dismiss the charges, stating the decision on Friday.
Busfield has consistently denied the accusations, labeling them as false and driven by a desire for revenge. It remains uncertain if prosecutors will pursue a new indictment in light of the judge’s ruling.
The case originated from Busfield’s involvement in directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Allegations arose from parents of twin boys who were part of the show, claiming that Busfield had inappropriately touched their children while on set in Albuquerque, N.M.
According to a criminal complaint filed in January, one of the boys reported that Busfield had touched him inappropriately 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, fearing repercussions.
Busfield voluntarily surrendered and was released on bail pending trial, as the judge found no history of similar allegations or criminal behavior involving children in Busfield’s past. However, a grand jury indictment followed shortly thereafter, alleging multiple incidents of inappropriate touching.
Busfield’s defense team argued that initial police interviews with the children did not support the allegations and accused the parents of coaching their children to make false statements after losing their roles on the show.
In June, Busfield’s attorneys formally requested the indictment’s dismissal, claiming that prosecutors disregarded the lack of evidence and obstructed witness testimony before the grand jury. The defense presented audio recordings during a September hearing, revealing jurors’ requests to hear from additional witnesses, which prosecutors allegedly ignored.
Despite the defense’s assertions of prosecutorial misconduct, the district attorney countered that proper evidence submission procedures were not followed and accused Busfield of attempting to influence grand jurors in his favor during his testimony.
Busfield, known for his work in “Thirtysomething,” expressed the impact of the case on his life and family, stating that he had faced professional consequences and vehemently denying the allegations made against him.
The indictment carried potential penalties of up to six years in prison per count, with the possibility of enhanced sentencing.