A judge in New Mexico has thrown out a case against actor Timothy Busfield, known for roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” involving allegations of criminal sexual contact with a child. The judge cited errors and misconduct by prosecutors that undermined the grand jury process. The decision to dismiss the charges was made by State District Judge Joseph Montano and was announced on Friday.
Busfield has consistently denied the accusations, labeling them as fabrications driven by a desire for retaliation. It remains unclear whether prosecutors will pursue a new indictment in the case.
The allegations against Busfield originated while he was directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Parents of twin boys who were part of the show alleged that Busfield inappropriately touched their children on the set in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
One of the boys reported to an investigator from the Albuquerque Police Department that Busfield had touched him inappropriately on two separate occasions when he was seven and eight years old. The twin brother also mentioned being touched by Busfield but did not provide specific details, fearing repercussions.
Busfield voluntarily surrendered and was released pending trial after a judge found no previous instances of criminal behavior involving children. However, a grand jury indictment followed shortly after, reiterating the allegations of inappropriate touching.
Busfield’s legal team argued that prosecutors overlooked the lack of evidence and manipulated the grand jury process to prevent crucial testimonies. The defense claimed that the children initially denied any inappropriate behavior by Busfield and accused their parents of coaching them to make false statements after losing their roles on the show.
During court proceedings, recordings of grand jurors requesting additional witnesses were played, highlighting the alleged misconduct by prosecutors. Busfield maintained his innocence, stating that the accusations had severely impacted his life and career. He adamantly denied the allegations of inappropriate touching, emphasizing his innocence.
The indictment against Busfield carried potential penalties of up to six years in prison for each count.