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 errors and misconduct that undermined the grand jury process. The decision to dismiss the charges came after a defense motion was granted by State District Judge Joseph Montano, as disclosed on Friday.
Busfield has consistently denied the accusations, labeling them as falsehoods driven by a desire for revenge. It remains uncertain whether prosecutors will pursue a new indictment following this development.
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, N.M. 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 stated that he was touched by Busfield, but he did not provide specific details and refrained from speaking up out of fear of repercussions. Busfield surrendered himself and was released pending trial, with the judge noting no prior criminal behavior or similar allegations involving children in Busfield’s history.
The grand jury indictment followed shortly after, with claims that Busfield had engaged in inappropriate touching multiple times. Busfield’s legal team highlighted inconsistencies in the children’s initial statements to the police, suggesting parental coaching after the boys lost their roles on the show.
Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors disregarded the lack of evidence and obstructed the grand jury process. They accused prosecutors of preventing witness testimonies from being heard and inventing procedural obstacles. The defense also presented evidence of prosecutorial misconduct during court hearings.
Busfield emphasized the impact of the allegations on his life and family, asserting his innocence and denying the accusations vehemently. Prosecutors had initially claimed that each count in the indictment carried a potential six-year prison sentence.