A judge in New Mexico has thrown out a case against Timothy Busfield, known for his roles in “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams,” involving allegations of criminal sexual contact with a child. The judge cited issues such as prosecutorial misconduct and errors that compromised the grand jury process. State District Judge Joseph Montano agreed with a defense motion to dismiss the charges, which were revealed on Friday.
Busfield has consistently refuted the accusations, labeling them as falsehoods driven by a desire for retaliation. It is uncertain at this point whether prosecutors will pursue a new indictment in the matter.
The incident dates back to Busfield’s time directing the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” between 2022 and 2024. Parents of twin boys who were part of the show alleged that Busfield behaved inappropriately towards the children while on set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to a criminal complaint from 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 out of fear of repercussions. Following his surrender and subsequent release pending trial, a judge noted there was no history of criminal behavior or similar allegations involving children in Busfield’s past.
Despite initial statements from the children to the police denying any inappropriate behavior from Busfield, a grand jury indictment was issued reiterating allegations of inappropriate touching. Busfield’s legal team alleged that the children’s parents coached them to give incriminating statements after they lost roles on the show.
In a bid to dismiss the indictment, Busfield’s lawyers accused prosecutors of ignoring the lack of evidence and impeding the grand jury process. During a hearing, Busfield’s attorney presented audio recordings showing jurors’ interest in additional witnesses, claiming that prosecutors misled the jury about the need for subpoenas.
Prosecutors argued that Busfield attempted to influence the jury in his favor during his testimony. The transcripts revealed Busfield expressing the impact of the case on his life and family, denying the allegations vehemently. Each count in the indictment carried a potential six-year prison sentence.
The case has garnered significant attention, with legal battles intensifying amidst claims of misconduct and lack of evidence.
