A judge in New Mexico has thrown out a case against Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” which alleged criminal sexual contact with a child. The judge cited misconduct and errors by prosecutors that undermined the grand jury process. Busfield, who has consistently denied the accusations, claims they are false and driven by a desire for revenge.
Following a defense motion, State District Judge Joseph Montano dismissed the charges, with uncertainty on whether prosecutors would pursue a new indictment. The allegations arose while Busfield was directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Parents of twin boys who were part of the show accused Busfield of inappropriate touching on the set in Albuquerque, N.M.
The complaint filed in January mentioned that one of the boys reported Busfield touching him inappropriately on two occasions when he was seven and eight years old. The boy’s brother also alleged being touched by Busfield but did not provide specific details out of fear of getting into trouble.
Busfield surrendered himself and was granted release pending trial, as the judge found no prior incidents involving children. Despite the initial interviews indicating no inappropriate behavior by Busfield, the grand jury indictment proceeded, alleging multiple instances of intimate touching.
Busfield’s defense team argued that prosecutors disregarded the lack of evidence and obstructed witness testimony during the grand jury process. The defense accused prosecutors of misconduct, while the District Attorney argued that proper evidence submission procedures were not followed. Busfield maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, expressing the impact of the accusations on his life and career.
The indictment carried potential penalties of up to six years in prison per count.