A judge in New Mexico has thrown out a case 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 as the reasons for dismissing the indictment. The decision to drop the charges was made by State District Judge Joseph Montano following a defense motion, which was released on Friday.
Busfield has consistently denied the allegations, labeling them as falsehoods driven by a desire for revenge. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they plan to pursue a new indictment in the case. The allegations against Busfield stem from his time directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. The parents of two twin boys who were part of the show alleged that Busfield inappropriately touched the children on the set in Albuquerque, N.M.
According to a criminal complaint filed in January, one of the boys reported that Busfield 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 specific details, fearing consequences if he spoke up.
Busfield surrendered himself and was released from custody pending trial after a judge found no prior instances of criminal behavior or similar accusations involving children against him. Despite this, a grand jury indictment was issued soon afterward, alleging that Busfield had engaged in inappropriate touching with one of the boys on multiple occasions without the need for a preliminary hearing.
Busfield’s legal team highlighted inconsistencies in the children’s statements to the police, emphasizing that the parents may have influenced the accusations after their sons lost their roles on the show. Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors overlooked the lack of substantial evidence and obstructed the grand jury from hearing crucial witness testimonies.
During court proceedings, Busfield expressed the impact of the case on his life and family, stating that he had suffered professionally and personally due to the accusations. He vehemently denied the allegations, stressing that they were entirely false. Prosecutors had warned that each count in the indictment carried a potential prison sentence of up to six years, with the possibility of further enhancement.